Can You Get Out Of Jury Duty in Florida?

While serving on a jury is your civic duty, and it’s also supposed to be a privilege, it’s not something everyone looks forward to. So, are there potential jury duty exemptions in Florida and what are the potential punishments if you fail to respond to your jury summons?

How Florida Selects Its Jury Pool

Have you ever wondered how the Sunshine State decides who receives a jury summons? Does the state just randomly mail out a summons in hopes of reaching a few qualified individuals or is there a process?

Even though it can seem like being selected for jury duty is a random event, there’s actually some logic behind the process. Florida looks at a variety of sources as the state is pulling names for potential jury duty.

The state gets potential juror names from sources like property and driver's license records. Primarily, the state looks at your address and tries to match you with a court in your jurisdiction. Yes, you can only serve on a jury in your district. For example, if you live in Tampa you’re not going to receive a jury summons for a trial taking place in Orlando. 

If you’re wondering about living off the grid, yes, this may mean you never receive a jury summons. The state must have a valid address. However, without a valid address on file, you may also be sacrificing your right to vote in state and federal elections.

Who’s Automatically Exempt From Jury Duty in Florida?

Florida’s jury exemption law mirrors those found in other states. Certain individuals are automatically exempt from jury duty, even if they receive a summons.

All law enforcement officers and fire department members are exempt from jury duty. The reason for the exemption is two-fold. These individuals may have firsthand knowledge of the crime or the defendant that can prejudice the rest of the jury. Law enforcement and firefighters are already performing a civic duty every time they head to work.

All members of the military, including the Coast Guard and National Guard are exempt from jury duty if they're on active duty. This exemption usually doesn’t apply if the individual is retired or only listed as a part-time duty. However, there can be exceptions. 

For example, if your part-time military duty falls during the trial’s schedule, you may be able to claim an exemption. All elected officials serving at the national, state, or local levels are exempt from jury duty.

Members of the clergy are also exempt from jury duty. This applies to all recognized religions. The key is belonging to a recognized religion. In other words, you can’t suddenly start a new religion and claim yourself as its leader just to get out of jury duty.

Judges can also relieve attorneys from serving on a jury if there’s a belief the attorney may be prejudiced either in favor or against the defendant. An example can be if a defense attorney is called to serve on a jury and realizes the defendant is a former client.

These exemptions also apply for as long as the individual meets the requirements. However, if a law enforcement official switches to another job like landscaping, they’re automatically eligible for jury duty.

Can You Be Excused From Jury Duty?

Florida allows some individuals to be excused from jury duty. You may be able to file for an exemption online, if not, you need to show up at the courthouse on the date listed on your jury summons. So, what are some reasons you can legally get out of jury duty in Florida?

If you can prove serving on a jury will result in financial hardship, you need to provide proof of earnings. Pay stubs and other financial documents like tax returns are usually enough to prove this exemption. 

However, you can’t use your employer as an excuse to get out of jury duty. By law, all employers must allow staff to serve on a jury without suffering any work-related penalties. 

Some states even have laws requiring employers to pay their employees’ salaries while they’re serving on a jury. Unfortunately, this doesn’t apply to Florida.

1. Full-time childcare providers are usually exempt from jury duty if they don’t have any other childcare options. This exemption applies to caregivers of children under the age of six
2. If you’re a full-time student, you should be exempt from jury duty. This even applies if the trial is scheduled to begin during summer break. You will need to provide proof of current enrollment. This exemption doesn’t apply to past students.
3. Anyone who isn’t fluent in English is automatically excused from jury duty. English can be your second or third language. The only requirement is you must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the language. This requirement helps ensure everyone can fully participate in jury deliberations.
4. Florida residents over the age of 70 are automatically excused from jury duty. This doesn’t mean you can’t still serve on a jury if you receive a summons, only that you have the option of declining.
5. Some medical conditions are automatic excuses from jury duty. This includes both mental and physical disabilities. You’ll need to provide the court with medical documentation to support your claim.

Another reason you can be excused from jury duty is if you have recently served on a jury. This can be a federal, state, or even civil jury. You can also decide to serve on this jury if you feel like sitting through another trial. In this scenario, the choice is yours.

You Can Legally Be Excused From Jury Duty

Serving on a jury is your civic duty but it doesn’t mean it’s something you have to look forward to. Sometimes, jury duty doesn’t fit into your daily life. 

When this happens, you may have a valid reason to file for an exemption. Just make sure you don’t ignore your jury summons. If you do, you may run into issues registering to vote or even renewing your Florida driver’s license.