How to Postpone Jury Duty in California: State and Federal Rules

To postpone jury duty in California, request a deferral from the court that summoned you before your scheduled report date. State superior courts generally allow one postponement of up to 90 days from your original summons date. Federal district courts in California are more flexible, with some allowing up to two postponements within one year. The exact process, timing, and paperwork depend on which court sent your summons.

State Court: One Deferral, Up to 90 Days

Most California superior courts let you defer jury service once, moving your report date out by a maximum of 90 days from the date on your original summons.¹ That single deferral is designed for ordinary scheduling conflicts: a medical appointment, a planned vacation, a school exam. Courts prefer deferring jurors over excusing them, so the request tends to go smoothly as long as your new date falls inside the 90-day window.²

There is one significant exception. A breastfeeding mother can request a deferral of up to one year and renew that request for as long as she continues breastfeeding. If she submits the request in writing under penalty of perjury, the jury commissioner must grant it without requiring a court appearance.³

A second postponement at the state level is possible but unlikely. You would need to show extraordinary circumstances, and the decision sits entirely with the jury commissioner. A general scheduling preference will not be enough.

Federal Court: Up to Two Postponements, With District Variations

If your summons comes from a United States district court in California, the rules differ by district. The Central District of California allows you to postpone jury service twice within one year from your initial report date. After those two deferrals, no further postponements are accepted.⁴ The court’s summons documents confirm the same policy.⁵

The Eastern District of California, which covers Sacramento, Fresno, and Bakersfield, handles postponements differently. It requires a written request within seven calendar days of receiving your summons. That request must state your reason and the earliest date you could serve. Unless you get written confirmation that your request was granted, you must continue to follow the reporting instructions on the summons.⁶

How to Submit the Request

The details vary by court, but you will generally need three things: your participant or summons number, a reason for the delay, and your preferred new service dates. Most California superior courts accept deferral requests through an online juror portal or an automated phone system.¹ Federal courts typically take requests online, by email, by fax, or by mail.⁶

Timing matters. Submit as far in advance of your report date as you can. In the Central District of California, you can check the status of a pending request five days before your report date by phone or online.⁴ The Eastern District expects your written request within seven days of receiving the summons.⁶ Waiting until the day you are supposed to appear is the worst approach and may be treated as a failure to appear.

When You Need an Excuse Instead of a Postponement

A postponement only moves the date. If your situation means you cannot serve on any date within the deferral window, you need to ask to be excused rather than deferred. Excuses require a genuine hardship, not mere inconvenience, and must be requested in writing before your service date.² Recognized grounds under state rules include:

Prior jury service within the past 12 months in any state or federal court (excuse must be granted on request; the jury commissioner may set a longer waiting period).⁷
A physical or mental condition creating undue risk of harm; documentation from a doctor may be required unless you are 70 or older.⁸
Sole daily caregiving for a sick, elderly, or dependent person when no comparable substitute is available without serious financial strain.⁸
Extreme financial hardship, typically supported by an employer letter confirming lost wages.¹
Active duty in the National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces, with a statement confirming service.¹

The excuse request must include specific facts about the hardship and explain why a simple deferral would not solve the problem.¹ That last piece is where most requests fail. The court wants to see that no date within the deferral window would work, not that the original date is inconvenient.

What Happens if You Ignore the Summons

Do not skip the request and hope the summons goes away. California has two enforcement tracks, and the court chooses which one applies.

The first is contempt of court. After an order-to-show-cause hearing, a judge can hold you in contempt, which carries up to five days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.⁹

The second is tiered monetary sanctions that escalate with repeat violations:¹⁰

First violation: up to $250
Second violation: up to $750
Third and subsequent violations: up to $1,500

Courts do not jump straight to penalties. If you fail to respond to your first summons, the court may send a second summons no earlier than 90 days later, notifying you of the failure to appear and ordering you to report. If you still do not respond, a certified letter typically follows, ordering you to appear before a judge within about 30 days.⁹ Each ignored notice makes the eventual outcome worse. If something is stopping you from responding, call the jury administration office listed on your summons rather than going silent.

1
Superior Court of California | County of San Bernardino. Deferrals / Excusals
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Judicial Branch of California. Rule 2.1008 Excuses From Jury Service
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Judicial Branch of California. Rule 2.1006 Deferral of Jury Service
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United States District Court Central District of California. Requesting a Postponement
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United States District Court – Central District of California. Summons for Federal Jury Service
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U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Request for Postponement or Excuse
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Judicial Branch of California. Rule 2.1008 Excuses From Jury Service – Section: (e) Excuse Based on Previous Jury Service
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Judicial Branch of California. Rule 2.1008 Excuses From Jury Service – Section: (b) Principles
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California Courts. Failure to Appear Toolkit – Increasing Jury Service Participation
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California Legislative Information. California Code of Civil Procedure 209