Asking to be excused from jury service

Introduction

If you are an Irish citizen over the age of 18 and are on the Register of Electors for Dáil Éireann, you are liable for jury service unless you are ineligible or disqualified.

Not eligible

Some people are not eligible to be called for service because their jobs are too closely connected with the justice system.

This includes:

  • judges
  • coroners
  • the Attorney General and members of their staff
  • the Director of Public Prosecutions and members of their staff
  • members of an Garda Síochána
  • practising barristers and solicitors, legal staff, and Court Service employees
  • prison officers, other prison staff, and people on visiting committees of prisons or places of detention
  • Probation and Welfare Service employees
  • people employed in forensic laboratories
  • serving members of the Defence Forces, including the Army Nursing Service and the Reserve Defence Force (during any period during which they are in receipt of pay for any service or duty as a member of the Reserve Defence Force)
  • Uachtarán na hÉireann – the President of Ireland.

 

Disqualified

People are disqualified from serving if they have:

  • been sentenced to a term of imprisonment or detention of five years or more OR
  • served any part of a sentence of imprisonment or detention of 3 months or more within the last 10 years.

Excused as of right

This means that you are eligible for jury service, but you can ask to be excused because of your circumstances.

People in the categories below can ask to be excused, but they can also serve on a jury if they choose to.

This includes:

  • People over the age of 65
  • The head or principal teacher of a college, university, school or other educational institution
  • Full-time students
  • Teaching staff –  if the principal certifies that the staff member concerned performs essential services that cannot be easily performed by someone else, or cannot be postponed
  • Practising medical practitioners, dentists, nurses, midwifes, veterinary surgeons or pharmacists
  • People in Holy Orders or who are regular ministers of any religion, or members of a religious order living in a monastery, convent or other religious community
  • Members of either House of the Oireachtas or of the Council of State
  • The Comptroller and Auditor General
  • The Clerks of Dáil Éireann or Seanad Éireann
  • Members of staff of either House of the Oireachtas –  if the Clerk certifies that the staff member concerned performs essential and urgent services of public importance that cannot be easily performed by someone else, or cannot be postponed
  • The Head of a Government Department and any civil servant –  if the Head of Department certifies that the staff member concerned performs essential and urgent services of public importance that cannot be easily performed by someone else, or cannot be postponed
  • The Chief Officer of a local authority, health board or harbour authority and any employee of those authorities – if the Chief Officer certifies that the staff member concerned performs essential and urgent services of public importance that cannot be easily performed by someone else, or cannot be postponed
  • The Secretary of the Commissioners of Irish Lights and any staff of the Commission – if the secretary certifies that the staff member concerned performs essential service that cannot be easily performed by someone else, or cannot be postponed
  • Master of Vessels, duly licensed pilots and duly licensed aircraft commanders
  • People who served on a jury or attended jury service in the previous three years and have been excused from jury service by the judge presiding over the case in question.

All other excusals

If it’s not possible for you to do jury service you can ask to be excused. You should only do this in exceptional circumstances, for example:

  • you have a serious illness or disability that prevents you from doing jury service
  • you’re a full time carer of someone with an illness or disability
  • you’re a new parent and cannot arrange alternative childcare
  • you are self-employed and jury service would seriously impact your business

You can also ask to be excused from jury service if you have performed jury service within the previous 3 years.

    How to apply to be excused

    If you want to apply to be excused from jury service, just reply to your jury summons online or by post and attach copies of documents you have that prove why you need to be excused.

    You cannot be excused from jury service over the phone. Another person (including employers) cannot apply on your behalf, except in exceptional circumstances such as illness or incapacity.

    Learn more about how we handle personal details.