Instead of jail time, Judge Hittner gave Gloston a booklet on the constitution and the judicial system.
There are a number of cases in which an individual would not be required to serve jury duty.
Exemptions
The Court may exempt you from service if you are:
- In active service of the armed forces of the United States.
- A member of a fire or police department.
- An elected official actively engaged in official duties.
Excuses
The Court may excuse you from jury service if you are:
- Not employed outside the home, having active care and custody of a child under the age of ten whose health or safety would be jeopardized by their absence for jury service; or a person who is essential to the care of the aged or infirm persons and who is not employed outside the home.
- Have served as a grand or petit juror in federal court within the past two years.
- Over seventy years of age.
- A federal law enforcement agent (like agents for Postal, FBI, Customs).
- A member of a volunteer safety organization and who works in an official capacity without compensation (fire fighters, rescue squads or ambulance crews).
- Someone for whom the jury service would cause undue hardship or extreme inconvenience. Medical excuses require a precise doctor's statement.
Postponements
The Court may postpone your jury service. A request for postponement must show specifically why the delay is unavoidable.