In California, being 70 or older doesn’t automatically excuse you from jury service. You can ask to be excused if your age is combined with a health condition, disability, or impairment that would expose you to undue risk of physical or mental harm. At 70 or older, the court cannot require a doctor’s verification.
Some counties have their own rules, so check your summons. Don’t ignore it, though: missing your date without responding can lead to fines or a court order to appear.
How Do I Ask to Be Excused?
Your summons will explain how to respond. Most California courts let you reply online, by mail, or by phone. If you’re 70 or older and a health condition, disability, or impairment makes it hard for you to serve, look for the option on your summons or the court’s website to request an excuse. At 75, you should not need a doctor’s note. All you need is a written request explaining your impairment and why a later date would not help.
Your summons or the court’s website should say what your county requires, so check before you respond.
Will the Summonses Stop for Good?
A medical excuse at your age covers only that summons. A permanent excuse is a separate written request that, until 2028, needs a signed note from your treating provider saying the disability is permanent.
What About the New Law for People 80 and Older?
A new California law (AB 1359) will let people 80 and older request a permanent medical excuse with a one-time written statement, and no doctor’s note. It doesn’t take effect until 2028, so until then the process above applies.
Quick Checklist When You Get a Summons
Read your summons and note the response deadline.
Look for the “request to be excused” option on the form or the court’s website.
Check what documentation the court requires (at 70 or older, a doctor’s note should not be required)
Respond online, by mail, or by phone before the deadline.
Keep a copy or confirmation of your response.
Call your county’s jury office to ask whether you can be removed from future jury lists.
Each county's court handles this a little differently, so the website or phone number on your summons is the best place to confirm the current steps.
