Exemptions from Jury Duty

Although each citizen has a civic duty to serve as a juror, there are some exceptions, listed below, which must be claimed upon receipt of summons. Failure to respond is regarded as a no-show, and legal repercussions may be enacted.

A person can be declared exempt from jury duty if he or she:

• Is over 70 years of age
  
• Has legal custody of a child younger than 10 years of age and the person's service on the jury requires leaving the child without adequate supervision
  
• Is a student of a public or private secondary school
  
• Is a person enrolled and in actual attendance at an institution of higher education
  
• Is an officer or an employee of the senate, the house of representatives, or any department, commission, board, office, or other agency in the legislative branch of state government
  
• Is summoned for service in a county with a population of at least 200,000, unless that county uses a jury plan under Section 62.011 and the period authorized under Section 62.011(b)(5) exceeds two years, and the person has served as a petit juror in the county during the 24-month period preceding the date the person is to appear for jury service
  
• Is the primary caretaker of a person who is an invalid unable to care for himself

Certain individuals may also be disqualified from serving on a particular case. In the interest of maintaining a non-biased jury, a potential juror will be disqualified if he or she:

• Is a witness in the case
  
• Is interested, directly or indirectly, in the subject matter of the case
  
• Is related by consanguinity or affinity within the third degree, as determined under Chapter 573, to a party in the case
  
• Has a bias or prejudice in favor of or against a party in the case
  
• Has served as a petit juror in a former trial of the same case or in another case involving the same questions of fact

The disqualification criteria are an effort to offer a fair trial for both the plaintiff and defendant. Similarly, the exemption criteria offer flexibility and understanding to those whose extenuating circumstances make jury service complicated. This flexibility, however, should never be used as a means to evade jury duty.

Anyone interested in additional information about New Hampshire DWI, or Personal Injury may visit my law practice website, Russman Law Offices.