Jury Duty Excuse Letter in Louisiana

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 Louisiana law says

Who can be excused from jury duty	Louisiana's Code of Criminal Procedure leaves the list of who is exempt from jury service to rules of the Louisiana Supreme Court (Art. 403). Separately, a person is not qualified to serve unless he or she is a U.S. and Louisiana citizen who has lived in the parish for at least one year, is at least 18, can read, write and speak English, is not under interdiction or unable to serve because of a mental or physical infirmity (hearing loss alone does not disqualify), and does not have certain recent felony charges, probation or parole or a conviction for a felony crime of violence or felony sex offense (Art. 401). Requests to be excused go to the court that issued the summons. Art. 401 text: https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=112500. The Supreme Court rule itself (Rule XXV) was not read. Source: La. C.Cr.P. arts. 401, 403
Jury duty pay and your job	An employer may not fire or take any other adverse action, without cause, against an employee who is called to or is serving on jury duty, as long as the employee tells the employer about the summons within a reasonable time and before appearing. An employer that fires an employee for this must reinstate the employee with the same wages, benefits and conditions and is fined $100 to $1,000 for each employee fired. A regularly employed person called to a state petit or grand jury or central jury pool must be given up to one day of leave without loss of wages or sick, emergency or personal leave; an employer that violates this must pay the employee's full wages for that day and is fined $100 to $500 for each offense. Source: La. R.S. 23:965

Who can be excused from jury duty

Louisiana's Code of Criminal Procedure leaves the list of who is exempt from jury service to rules of the Louisiana Supreme Court (Art. 403). Separately, a person is not qualified to serve unless he or she is a U.S. and Louisiana citizen who has lived in the parish for at least one year, is at least 18, can read, write and speak English, is not under interdiction or unable to serve because of a mental or physical infirmity (hearing loss alone does not disqualify), and does not have certain recent felony charges, probation or parole or a conviction for a felony crime of violence or felony sex offense (Art. 401). Requests to be excused go to the court that issued the summons.

Art. 401 text: https://legis.la.gov/Legis/Law.aspx?d=112500. The Supreme Court rule itself (Rule XXV) was not read.

Source: La. C.Cr.P. arts. 401, 403

Jury duty pay and your job

An employer may not fire or take any other adverse action, without cause, against an employee who is called to or is serving on jury duty, as long as the employee tells the employer about the summons within a reasonable time and before appearing. An employer that fires an employee for this must reinstate the employee with the same wages, benefits and conditions and is fined $100 to $1,000 for each employee fired. A regularly employed person called to a state petit or grand jury or central jury pool must be given up to one day of leave without loss of wages or sick, emergency or personal leave; an employer that violates this must pay the employee's full wages for that day and is fined $100 to $500 for each offense.

Source: La. R.S. 23:965

Fill it in

Nothing you type leaves your browser. Replace anything still highlighted, and keep a signed copy.

[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 · Louisiana tenant rights

Last verified against official sources: October 23, 2026.

How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources

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.