Can you be too old for jury duty in Kansas? Here’s what state law says
Every year, some Kansas residents must serve on juries, where they listen to testimony, review evidence, and make decisions in civil and criminal trials.
The time you spend as a member of the jury will depend on the case you are called for, and there’s a chance you may not get to serve even if you meet the qualifications and are called for jury duty.
In Kansas, you have to be 18 or older and be a resident of the county or city sending the summons for at least 20 days.
Here’s why some Kansas jurors may be excused from serving.
How do Kansans get excused from jury duty?
If you have served on a jury panel within your county in the past year, you do not have to serve if you have been summoned again.
While there is no statewide law that says you have to stop serving on a jury in Kansas, you can be excused from serving if you are 75 years or older in judicial districts.
Some other reasons you could be excused from serving include:
If you are physically or mentally unable to that you are not up to the task of jury duty
If your presence is required elsewhere for public welfare, health or safety
If service on a jury would cause an extraordinary or compelling personal hardship.
If you meet one or more of these conditions, you can make a request to be excused from serving by emailing, faxing or mailing your closest jury coordinator. All requests to be excused must be in writing, come from the summoned juror and be submitted in a timely manner, according to the federal District of Kansas court system.
You may be held in contempt of court if you do not appear for jury duty in Kansas, according to state law. You may also be fined for not serving.
This story was originally published June 12, 2024 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Can you be too old for jury duty in Kansas? Here’s what state law says."
