Some individuals are excited to receive a jury summons in the mail. Others want to put the summons back in their mailbox and pretend they didn’t see anything. For those who look forward to jury duty, congratulations. You’re performing your civic duty. You’re also helping to ensure a fair and impartial legal system.
If you prefer to never receive a jury summons then you may actually be able to get out of performing your civic duty. So, what are the potential Nevada jury exemptions? The list is extensive and maybe one of the following exemptions will let you miss serving on a jury.
Potential Penalties for Skipping Jury Duty in Nevada
You can’t ignore a jury summons. The summons is a legal document and skipping your scheduled jury duty can have consequences. According to Nevada Revised Statute 6.040, anyone failing to respond to a jury summons can face the following potential penalties.
If you decide to skip jury duty, get ready to receive a second summons. This is a summons to appear before a judge and explain your reason for being absent. If you can’t provide a good reason for your absence the judge will probably find you in contempt of court. This usually comes with a $300 fine. If the judge approves your excuse, you typically aren’t assessed any penalties.
What are some examples of valid excuses? Sudden vehicle failure or an inability to find childcare can be valid reasons for not showing up for jury selection. However, before you start preparing an excuse, be ready to provide evidence. The judge may ask for proof. If you’re caught lying to a judge you may be facing more than a $300 fine. Your fines can increase and you may even spend a few hours in jail.
If you decide to ignore the second summons, the judge will issue a bench warrant in your name. The police are unlikely to show up at your door but you may be arrested the next time you’re pulled over for a traffic stop.
The penalties for skipping federal jury duty are a little steeper than deciding not to show up at a state, county, or city courthouse. The process is basically the same. If you ignore your federal jury summons, you’ll be required to appear before a judge and explain your absence.
If you can’t explain your absence or decide not to answer the second summons, your penalties can include the following:
- Up to $1000 in fines, and/or
- Up to 3 days in jail, and/or
- Community service
You’re typically required to complete a few hours of community service and the tasks can vary depending on the needs in your area.
Reasons to Be Excused From Jury Duty in Nevada
All states, including Nevada and the federal government, allow certain individuals to be excused from serving on a jury. You can usually file your excuse online but there can be times when you have to present proof. This may mean a trip to the DMV or even presenting evidence in court before a judge.
To help bolster your awareness and improve your understanding, here are some of the reasons you may be exempt from jury duty:
- All Nevada state legislators are exempt from jury duty. However, exceptions can be occasionally made when the legislature isn’t in session. This is rare since there’s no guarantee the trial will end by the time the next session starts.
- Law enforcement officers are exempt from jury duty. The reason is these individuals are already performing a civic duty by helping to keep the area safe.
- Anyone 70 years and older can be permanently excused from serving on a jury.
- If you’re 65 years old and live at least 65 miles from the courthouse, you’re excused from jury duty.
- Anyone serving on a jury within six months of receiving a summons is exempt.
You can also be excused from jury duty if you’re using a fictitious name due to something like being in the Witness Protection Program. Your birth or legal name must appear on the jury summons for it to be valid.
Besides, it’s usually considered too risky to have someone who’s trying to protect their true identity serving on a jury. This can place everyone in danger depending on the reason the individual is in hiding.
Can You Be Ineligible To Serve on a Jury
Not everyone is eligible to serve on a jury in Nevada. This list is a little different from the one with accepted reasons to be excused. If you meet any of the following criteria you’re almost always automatically exempt from serving on any type of jury even in a civil trial like a personal injury claim:
- Non-citizens of the U.S
- Individuals under the age of 18. Minors are automatically exempt from jury duty
- People rendered incapable of physical or mental infirmities as certified by a doctor
- Anyone convicted of treason
- Convicted felons who have not had their civil rights restored
- Non-English speakers
You must be able to read, write, speak, and understand English to serve on a jury. The reason behind this requirement is pretty simple. If a juror doesn’t understand English, they may find it difficult to participate in deliberations.
Do Employers Have to Excuse Employees for Jury Duty
Nevada Revised Statute 6.190 prohibits any employer from punishing an employee for serving on a jury. Your employer isn’t required to continue paying your wage, but they can’t penalize you for responding to a jury summons.
If an employer refuses to allow an employee to respond to a jury summons, they can face the following penalties:
- Up to $1,000 in fines and/or up to six months in jail
- Any employer who tries to terminate an employee’s employment for serving on a jury can face fines up to $2,000 and/or 364 days in jail.
If your employer is preventing you from responding to a jury summons, contact your local authorities.
Don’t Ignore Your Jury Summons
You may be able to be excused from jury duty if it’s not something you want to do. However, make sure that you don’t ignore the summons outright because the penalties you may face can be quite steep.
Even if you don’t have a valid or recognized reason for skipping out on jury duty there’s always a chance you can reschedule for a later date in the future.