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Office of the Revisor of Statutes

Office of the Revisor of Statutes

GENERAL RULES OF PRACTICE

Rule 810.Excuses and Deferrals

(a) All automatic excuses or disqualifications from jury service are eliminated except as provided in Rule 808.

(b) Eligible persons who are summoned may be excused from jury service only if:

(1) their ability to receive and evaluate information is impaired such that they are unable to perform their duties as jurors and they are excused for this reason by a judge; or

(2) they request to be excused because their service would be a continuing hardship to them or to members of the public and they are excused for this reason by the jury commissioner.

(c) Upon request from a qualified prospective juror, the jury commissioner shall determine whether the prospective juror meets the conditions for deferral set out in the jury administration plan. The deferral shall be for a reasonable time, after which the prospective juror shall be available for jury service, in accordance with the court's direction. Deferral of jury service is encouraged as an alternative to excuse from service.

(d) The reason for the excuse or deferral of any prospective juror shall be documented by the court.

(e) A member, officer, or employee of the state or federal legislature is shall be granted a deferral of jury service upon request while the legislature is in session.

(f) A candidate who has filed an affidavit of candidacy for elected office under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 103C, 122, 204B, 204D, 205, 205A, or 447, is deferred from jury service from the date of filing the affidavit until the day after the election for that office, if the person requests to be deferred for this reason.

(Amended effective November 22, 2023.)

Advisory Committee Comment - 2023 Amendments

Rule 810 is updated in 2023 to clarify that service in a state or federal legislature is grounds for deferral, not an excuse, from juror service. The requirement to document reasons for excuse or deferral is an administrative one that is subject to change as new software programs are implemented.