Can a letter be written to explain why jury duty cannot be served?

It is possible to write a letter requesting to be excused from jury duty, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The letter should clearly state how being a juror would create undue hardship on the individual, and it should be submitted to the court clerk.

Although a juror can request being excused from jury duty, the request may be denied by the court. If this happens, there is no process to appeal the decision. Common reasons for being excused include active military duty, people over the age of 70, and those who have served on a federal jury in the past two years. Policies on being excused from jury duty vary with each district court.