Deferrals

The Superior Court realizes prospective jurors may have been summoned at an inconvenient time and in most instances are willing to defer or postpone service to a more convenient time. Jury service may be postponed one time for a maximum of 90 days from the original summons date. Deferring jury service is preferred for a temporary or marginal hardship, i.e. a medical appointment; full-time student or planned vacation.

To defer jury service you may either use the Juror Questionnaire Portal or automated phone system at 1-909-884-1858. You need your Juror ID number located on your jury summons.

Excusals

A request to be excused from jury service must be submitted in writing to the Jury Administration Office prior to the prospective juror’s service date. The request must include facts specifying the hardship and a statement of why the circumstances constituting the hardship cannot be avoided by deferring jury service to another date. The request can be sent via U.S. mail or to jury@sb-court.org.

California Rules of Court, Rule 2.1008 and 2.1009, and California Code of Civil Procedure Sections 203 and 204 specify the grounds on which the Jury Commissioner is permitted to excuse prospective jurors from jury service. Excusal situations that can be address by either completing the Jury Questionnaire or the appropriate form see below.

Please note: Failure to include all information required will result in an automatic denial of your request.

• Must have a written statement from your doctor or obtain the Medical Excusal form that the doctor must complete.

• Must provide the name of your country of citizenship, please complete the Confidential Juror Affidavit.

• If you do not possess sufficient knowledge of the English language and wish to request an excusal, please complete the Confidential Juror Affidavit. Include years of citizenship.

For the excusals listed below please complete the Juror Questionnaire and return to the Court.

• Must provide name and address correction with your current county.

• Must include birthdate.

• If you have a malfeasance in office conviction and your civil rights have not been restored. Please complete the Juror Affidavit and return to the Court.

• If you are currently on felony probation, parole, postrelease community supervision, mandated supervision or required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Penal Code 290 based on a felony conviction. Please complete the Juror Affidavit and return to the Court.

• If you are currently incarcerated in any prison or jail. Please complete the Juror Affidavit and return to the Court.

• Must be a non-professional full-time caregiver and provide care for another between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.
• Number of people for whom you provide care and their ages;
• Reason for care;
• If employed, what hours you work.

• Sign declaration that you are an officer pursuant to PC 830.1, 830.2(a) or 830.33(a)

• Statement that you are an active member of the National Guard or U.S. Armed Forces.

• Provide dates of service within last twelve months, if you are/were selected for a jury.

• If you are requesting an excusal for an extreme financial hardship, the court will require you to provide a letter from your employer confirming that you would lose wages, salary or commission during jury service.

• May reschedule your service to a different day, but you must appear before the judge to be excused.

• If you have no reasonably available means of public or private transportation.

• If your total commute time from your home one-way to the courthouse exceeds one and a half hours (90 minutes).