You know it’s your civic duty but this doesn’t mean it’s something you want to do. Like most people, you probably dread seeing a jury summons in your mailbox. Now, you’re stuck frantically trying to think of a valid reason to get out of jury duty. 

Unfortunately, you’re an adult and this means you’re probably eligible to serve on a Georgia jury. Otherwise, you may end up facing some potential penalties for skipping GA jury duty. The Peach State does allow for some exemptions. If you meet the requirements, you may be able to cross jury duty off your calendar.

How Georgia Selects Potential Jurors

Have you ever wondered how the state knows you may be eligible for jury duty? You presume the state is mailing out jury summons to random addresses in hopes of reaching some who meet the eligibility requirements.

The state has a master jury list it uses to choose eligible residents. The names on the list are compiled from a variety of resources including property owner and voter registration rolls. To meet the Peach State’s eligibility requirements to serve on either a criminal or civil jury you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen and at least 18 years of age
• Live in the county the court sending the summons serves.
• Haven’t served on a jury in the past 12 months
• Understand and speak English

You also can’t be under a court-appointed conservatorship or be under a felony conviction. However, if you’re convicted of a felony but are no longer on parole or being monitored by the judicial system, you’re probably eligible for jury duty. Another eligibility requirement is you can’t currently be serving on another jury. This includes sitting on a grand jury.

If you meet these requirements, you should probably expect to receive a jury summons at least once in your life.

Potential Exemptions from Jury Duty

Some people look forward to serving on a jury, others want to do everything possible to avoid performing this civic duty. Serving on a jury often means putting your life on hold, sometimes for weeks or even months. If you’re serving on a sequestered jury, you may only have limited contact with family and friends.

So, can you legally get out of serving on a jury in Georgia? The answer may be yes. The state allows for some exemptions from jury duty.

All full-time students are exempt from jury duty. The state views education as a priority. Anyone who’s the primary caregiver for a child under the age of six can also be exempt. This can also apply to anyone who’s the sole caregiver of someone over the age of six. 

However, the individual must have a medical condition that makes it impossible for them to be left safely on their own. Other jury duty exemptions include:

• Teachers in home-schooling programs. Once again, education usually takes priority over civic duty.
• Employees who are necessary to ensure the public’s safety and health. This usually includes first responders like ambulance, police, and fire personnel. Medical professionals may also meet the threshold for this exemption.
• Anyone over the age of 70. If you turn 70 before the court date on your jury summons, you’re probably exempt due to your age. However, just because you’re 70 years old doesn’t prevent you from serving on a jury if you want to ignore the exemption.
• Military service members and their spouses are usually exempt from jury duty.

You may be exempt from jury duty if you can supply evidence attesting to a physical or mental condition that prevents you from understanding or fully participating in jury discussions. Along with providing supporting medical documentation, the judge may request a statement from your physician.

While this isn’t exactly an exemption, you may be able to postpone your scheduled jury duty. By asking for a deferment, your scheduled jury duty may be moved to another court session. In other words, you may be able to put jury duty off for a few months.

Potential Penalties for Skipping Jury Duty

You may think it’s not a big deal to skip jury duty. After all, it’s not like the judge is going to throw you in jail, right? Skipping jury duty without claiming an exemption can result in potential penalties that can include a short stay in jail. You may also be facing fines, along with court costs. You may even temporarily lose your right to vote in an upcoming election.

Even though jury duty can be a pain, it’s also a vital part of a democratic government. The next time you receive a jury summons, don’t ignore it. You may be able to take advantage of an exemption.