To get out of jury duty in NJ, respond to your summons and ask your county’s Assignment Judge for either an excusal or a deferral. An excusal releases you from this round of service entirely; a deferral pushes your date, usually within the next twelve months. The judge decides, and the judge can ask you to back up whatever you claim.1Justia Law. New Jersey Revised Statutes 2B:20-9 – Excuses and Deferrals by Assignment Judge
First Check Whether You’re Even Qualified
Some people who receive a summons shouldn’t have. To serve in New Jersey, you must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen, a resident of the county that summoned you, able to read and understand English, and free of any mental or physical condition that would prevent you from serving properly. Anyone convicted of an indictable offense under New Jersey, another state’s, or federal law is disqualified.2Justia Law. New Jersey Revised Statutes 2B:20-1 – Qualifications of Jurors
If any of that applies to you, respond to the summons and say so. Don’t ignore it.
Grounds That Get You Excused
An excusal removes you from this summons entirely. The Assignment Judge in your county, or that judge’s designee, is the only person who can grant one.1Justia Law. New Jersey Revised Statutes 2B:20-9 – Excuses and Deferrals by Assignment Judge
You’re 75 or Older
Age 75 or older is an automatic excusal. Provide your date of birth to your county’s Jury Management Office and you’re done. No further documentation.
You Served Recently
If you served as a juror in the same county within the last three years, you can be excused. Give the court the date of your prior service so they can confirm it.
You Have a Serious Medical Condition
A serious medical condition that prevents service and isn’t expected to improve within a year qualifies for excusal. You’ll need a letter from a licensed physician confirming the condition and its expected duration. A temporary problem, like a scheduled surgery or a recovery window, is better handled as a deferral.
You’re Caring for Someone
Two caregiving situations qualify. The first is being the sole caregiver for a child when no alternative care is available without severe financial hardship. The second is providing essential personal care to a sick, elderly, or disabled dependent, backed by a doctor’s note on the dependent’s condition.
A separate provision covers mothers who are nursing or expressing milk for a child one year old or younger.3NJ Courts. Certification in Support of Request for Excuse from Jury Service – Nursing Mothers
Serving Would Cause Severe Financial Hardship
If jury service would seriously compromise your ability to support yourself or your dependents, you can request excusal on financial hardship grounds. There’s no fixed formula. The Assignment Judge weighs your household income sources, whether your employer pays you during jury service, and the likely length of the trial.4NJ Courts. Certification in Support of Request to be Excused from Jury Service – Financial Hardship
You’ll submit a sworn certification, and the court may then ask for a prior year’s tax return, proof of public assistance or disability benefits, or a letter from your employer about its pay policy during jury service.4NJ Courts. Certification in Support of Request to be Excused from Jury Service – Financial Hardship Since state juror pay is $5 per day for the first three days and $40 per day starting on the fourth consecutive day, and no New Jersey law forces private employers to pay your salary while you serve, hardship is a real consideration for people whose employers don’t cover jury duty.
Your Job Qualifies for an Occupational Excusal
Certain occupations qualify because pulling the worker away creates safety risks or serious disruptions:
- Active-duty U.S. military, on duty as of the summons date
- Full-time teachers, during the school year, when a replacement can’t reasonably be found
- Healthcare workers providing specialized care or direct care to people with mental or physical disabilities, where their continued presence is essential
- Volunteer members of a first aid or rescue squad
Expect to submit a letter from your employer or commanding officer confirming your role and why your absence would cause a hardship.
If You Can’t Get Excused, Ask to Defer
If none of the excusal categories fit but the timing is genuinely bad, a deferral moves your service to a later date, generally within the following twelve months. A deferral doesn’t erase your obligation. It postpones it. For most people with an ordinary scheduling conflict, this is the realistic option, and courts grant deferrals readily.
Reasons that typically support a deferral:
- Pre-booked travel or vacation overlapping the summons date
- A temporary medical condition or an upcoming procedure
- Business deadlines or commitments that can’t be moved
- School obligations like final exams or mandatory coursework
- Short-term childcare gaps, such as a caretaker being unavailable during school breaks
Suggest specific dates that work for you. The court will try to accommodate the preference, though the actual reschedule depends on the trial calendar.
How to Submit the Request
Act as soon as the summons arrives. The New Jersey Judiciary runs an online portal called My Jury Service, where you can complete the qualification questionnaire and submit an excusal or deferral request. You can also mail your request or call your county’s Jury Management Office. The phone number and mailing address are printed on the summons.
Include your juror ID number from the summons, your scheduled appearance date, and a clear explanation of what you’re asking for and why. Attach the supporting documents that fit your situation: a physician’s letter for medical grounds, an employer or commanding officer letter for occupational excusals, or financial records for hardship claims. The Jury Management Office reviews the request and notifies you of the decision, so keep your contact information current.
Don’t Just Ignore the Summons
Throwing the summons in the trash is the worst move. In New Jersey state courts, ignoring a summons can lead to a contempt finding. You may be ordered before a judge to explain yourself, and the court can impose fines.
Even if you’re confident an excusal will be granted, respond first. The court works with people who communicate; it doesn’t go easy on no-shows.
The Last Off-Ramp: Voir Dire
If your request is denied and you report for duty, you still might not sit on a jury. During voir dire, the judge and attorneys question prospective jurors about whether they can be fair and impartial in the specific case. Genuine bias, a personal connection to a party, or a real conflict of interest can get you dismissed for cause. Attorneys can also remove jurors with peremptory challenges without giving a reason.
The word that matters is genuine. Faking hostility is obvious to experienced attorneys and judges, and it can backfire. If you honestly can’t be impartial about the case in front of you, say so plainly when asked. The court would rather dismiss you than seat a juror who can’t be fair.
Your Job Is Protected While You Serve
An employer cannot fire, demote, cut hours, or otherwise penalize you because you’re required to attend court for jury service. Violating that protection is a disorderly persons offense, and you can also sue in civil court within 90 days of the violation or the end of your service, whichever is later, for economic damages, reinstatement, and reasonable attorney’s fees.5Justia Law. New Jersey Revised Statutes 2B:20-17 – Employment Protection
One boundary worth noting: this article covers New Jersey state jury duty. Federal jury summonses come from a federal district court and follow separate rules, including different excusal standards and different penalties for not appearing. If your summons is federal, contact the federal court listed on it directly.