Kenny Habetz Injury Law | April 2, 2025 | Personal Injury
Many people often get frustrated when they are called for jury duty because it can interfere with their work schedules as well as their personal lives. However, jury duty is necessary for the proper operation of both our criminal and civil justice systems.
In short, yes, it is possible to get out of jury duty in Lafayette, Louisiana. However, you must meet one of the legal exceptions to jury service to get out of it completely. Simply choosing not to show up is not a good idea as that can have serious legal consequences. Dive into all the details below to learn more about jury duty and how you may be able to get out of it.
How Are Jurors in Louisiana Chosen?
You may hear some people say that they do not vote because they do not want to be chosen for jury duty. A common myth is that potential jurors are selected only from the voter registration records.
Although courts commonly pull potential jurors from voter registration records, Louisiana may select potential jurors from:
- Registered voters
- Driver’s license holders
- State-issued ID holders
Just because your name has been pulled does not mean that you will ultimately serve on a jury.
What Are the Qualifications of a Juror in Louisiana?
If your name gets pulled from the list of potential jurors, the court will send you a questionnaire to determine whether you are qualified to serve.
To qualify as a juror according to the Louisiana State Bar, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be a resident of the county or parish in which you were summoned for at least one year
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be able to read, write, and speak English
- NOT be under indictment for a felony or be convicted of a felony
- NOT be deemed incompetent
If the court determines you are qualified, your name will be entered into the jury pool, and you may be randomly selected to serve on a jury.
How to Get Excused From Jury Service: Jury Duty Exemptions
The easiest way to get out of jury duty is to request a postponement. If you have been summoned at an inconvenient time, you can easily request a postponement of your service to a later date.
For a first-time postponement, you can simply call the court and request that they move your jury service to a future date. However, the future date must be within the next 90 days.
Louisiana law also provides some situations under which a person may request an exemption from jury service. Some situations that may get you completely excused from jury service are:
- If you are 70 years old or older, you may choose to opt out
- If you have served on a jury within the past two years
- If you are a full-time college students
- If you have an undue physical or financial hardship – this may allow you to request a 24-month waiver from service
In the past, certain essential occupations could be exempted from jury service. However, that is no longer the case, and the list of exemptions that allow you to get out of service is quite small.
Penalties For Not Showing Up For Jury Duty
Remember that a summons for jury service is mandatory. In some cases, you may be able to contact the court prior to your service date and get excused. However, you must confirm that your excuse has been accepted. If you do not do this prior to your service date, you must show up for jury duty.
Failure to show up for jury duty is a serious matter. You may be held in contempt of court if you do not show up for service at the scheduled date and time on your summons. Contempt of court charges could result in criminal penalties, including fines and even jail time.
What Does a Jury Do?
Juries play an extremely important role in our justice system. Juries in civil court may hear a variety of different types of cases, including car accidents, wrongful death, medical malpractice, and more. A jury will listen to the evidence and determine whether the defendant is liable for damages.
If the jury finds in favor of the plaintiff, they will also decide the amount of damages that will be awarded. In criminal cases, juries listen to all the evidence and decide whether the prosecution has proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt.
If you get called for jury duty, be sure to take the responsibility seriously. While there are a few exemptions that can get you out of jury duty, failing to appear without a valid excuse can have serious consequences.
Contact the Louisiana Personal Injury Law Firm Of Kenny Habetz Injury Law for Help Today
If you’ve been injured in Louisiana, please call Kenny Habetz Injury Law for a free case evaluation with a Louisiana personal injury lawyer or contact us online. We have offices in Lafayette and Crowley, LA.
Kenny Habetz Injury Law – Lafayette
110 E Kaliste Saloom Rd Ste 101 Lafayette, LA 70508
(337) 399-9000
Kenny Habetz Injury Law – Crowley
604 S Parkerson Ave. Crowley, LA 70526
(337) 329-8883
