Jury Duty Excuse Letter in Kentucky
A short letter asking the court to excuse you from jury duty or postpone it. Follow the instructions on your summons first, because courts handle these requests differently, and keep following the summons until the court answers.
What Kentucky law says
| Who can be excused from jury duty | In Kentucky, a person 70 or older may ask on the juror qualification form to be excused for the period summoned, and a judge may grant a permanent exemption for a permanent medical condition that makes service impossible. A judge must excuse a mother who is breastfeeding or expressing breast milk until she stops. A judge may excuse or postpone service (up to 24 months) for undue hardship, extreme inconvenience or public necessity; requests can be made to the Chief Circuit Judge or court staff before assignment, or heard on the day jurors report. No one has to serve more than 30 court days as a trial juror, or on more than one grand jury, in any 24-month period. |
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| Penalty for skipping jury duty | If you are summoned for jury service in Kentucky and fail to appear, the court will order you to come in right away and explain why. If you cannot show good cause, you may be punished for contempt of court; a juror who leaves or fails to finish service without the court's permission can also be held in contempt. Source: KRS 29A.150 |
| Jury duty pay and your job | Kentucky employers may not fire, threaten or pressure an employee because the employee gets a jury summons, responds to it, serves or attends court for jury selection. A fired employee may sue within 90 days for lost wages and reinstatement with full seniority and benefits, plus attorney's fees if successful, and an employer who violates the law commits a Class B misdemeanor (up to 90 days in jail and a $250 fine). Jurors are paid $5 per day plus $7.50 per day for expenses. |
Fill it in
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[today's date]
[your name]
[your mailing address]
[your phone or email]
To: [court or jury office name and address, from your summons]
Re: Jury summons. Juror number: [juror number from your summons]. Reporting date: [date you are told to report].
Dear [jury commissioner, clerk or judge named on your summons]:
I received a jury summons for the date above. I am asking to be [excused from / postponed from] jury service because [your reason, in one or two plain sentences].
I have attached [documents supporting your request, such as a doctor's note, or none].
If my service can be postponed, I can serve on these dates: [dates you are available].
Please tell me in writing whether my request is approved. I understand that I must follow the summons until I hear from the court.
Sincerely,
[your name]
Jury Duty Excuse Letter for other states · Kentucky tenant rights
Last verified against official sources: October 22, 2026.
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.