Excuse & Deferral

Jury Questionnaire

If you have received a Jury Questionnaire, please compete it on-line here, or

Send by mail:

Jury Commissioner’s Office
P.O. Box 476
Downieville, CA 95936

Hand delivery:

100 Courthouse Square
Downieville, CA 95936

Send by fax:

(530) 289-0205

Jury Excuse or Deferral

The Jury Commissioner only has authority to grant the following categories of excuse, deferral or accommodation:

• Peace officer with statewide authority [CCP§219(b)(1)] [Penal Code §§830.1 or 830.2(a), and 830.33 (excluding correctional officers].
• If you served on a grand or trial jury within the preceding 12 months.
• If you have a serious physical or mental condition and jury service would expose you to undue risk of physical or mental harm.
• Physician’s statement required for persons under 70 years of age (see below); persons over 70 years of age may self-certify.
• Nursing mother, postponement for up to one year from date of request.
• Prepaid vacation planned for the period I am on jury duty, with verification of dates of travel.
• Students may request a one-time postponement of their service to the NEXT SCHOOL BREAK, by phone at (530) 289-2930.
• There is a one-time request for deferral of service [CRC 2.1004(a)].

If none of these apply to you, you will have an opportunity to request an excuse for undue hardship when you appear for trial. California Rules of Court, Rule 2.1008(b)(4) states: “Inconvenience to a prospective juror is not an adequate reason to be excused from jury duty, although it may be considered a reason for deferral.” If you have a hardship, not included in the categories above, when you appear for trial, you will have an opportunity to request a hardship from the judge and you must show facts and documentation to support that request.

Applying for a Medical Excuse

If you are over 70 years of age and medical issues prevent you from serving, you are not required to provide a doctor's note. Complete the Jury Questionnaire or provide a letter, stating your date of birth, your request for excuse, and whether the cause is temporary or permanent. Return your Jury Questionnaire or letter to the Jury Commissioner’s office by mail, fax, or hand delivery as soon as possible.

If you are under the age of 70 and have a medical disability that would prevent you from serving, you must provide a doctor's note verifying the disability. The medical note must indicate the permanent nature of your disability or, if temporary, the specific time period for which your medical excuse is valid.

Medical notes and Jury Questionnaires should be delivered to the Jury Commissioner’s office by mail, fax or hand delivery as soon as possible:

Office of Jury Commissioner
Superior Court of California
County of Sierra
P.O. Box 476
Downieville, CA 95936

Sample Letter Excusing Juror for Medical Reasons

Superior Court of California
County of Sierra
P.O. Box 476
Downieville, CA 95936

Date of Summons:

Dear Jury Commissioner:

Please excuse ______________________________, DOB: ______________, from your list of potential jurors for medical reasons. It is my medical opinion that he/she is unable to fulfill jury duties

PERMANENTLY ____
TEMPORARILY ____
If the excuse is temporary, it is for ____________ months.

Sincerely,

NAME OF DOCTOR
telephone number
address