Asking to be excused from jury service

Who can be called for jury service

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

Who is not eligible (ineligible)

Some people cannot be called because their work is too closely connected with the justice system. If you are ineligible, you do not have to serve. This includes:

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

Who is disqualified

You are disqualified from serving if you have:

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

Asking to be excused or to move your date

If you are eligible but cannot serve, you may be able to ask to be excused, or to move your jury service to a later date. Even if you plan to ask, you must still respond to your summons by the date shown on it.

Excused as of right

‘Excused as of right’ means you are eligible for jury service, but you can ask to be excused because of your role or circumstances — and it is normally granted. You can still choose to serve if you want 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 person performs essential services that cannot easily be performed by someone else, or cannot be postponed
• practising medical practitioners, dentists, nurses, midwives, veterinary surgeons or pharmacists
• people in Holy Orders, 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
• staff of either House of the Oireachtas – if the Clerk certifies that the person performs essential and urgent services of public importance that cannot easily be 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 person performs essential and urgent services of public importance that cannot easily be performed by someone else, or cannot be postponed
• the Chief Officer of a local authority, health board or harbour authority and any of their employees – if the Chief Officer certifies that the person performs essential and urgent services of public importance that cannot easily be 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 person performs essential services that cannot easily be performed by someone else, or cannot be postponed
• masters of vessels, and duly licensed pilots and aircraft commanders
• people who served on a jury, or attended for jury service, in the previous three years and were excused by the judge presiding over that case

[Courts Service to confirm: this list must be checked against the Juries Act 1976 as amended by the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008, which changed the categories that can be excused as of right. Do not publish until verified.]

Other reasons to be excused

If you cannot do jury service for another reason, you can ask to be excused. This is only granted in exceptional circumstances, for example:

• you have a serious illness or disability that prevents you from serving
• you are a full-time carer for someone with an illness or disability
• you are a new parent and cannot arrange alternative childcare
• you are self-employed and jury service would seriously affect your business
• you have done jury service within the previous three years

Ask to move to a later date

If you can serve but not on the date given — for example, because of exams, a booked medical procedure or a work commitment — you may be able to ask to move your jury service to a later date instead of being excused altogether.

[Courts Service to confirm whether this option (deferral) exists and how to request it — through the portal, as part of the excusal process, or separately. Delete this section if deferral is not available.]

How to apply to be excused

To apply, respond to your jury summons online or by post, and include copies of any documents that support your reason. You cannot be excused over the phone.

Documents you might include, depending on your reason:

• Illness or disability: a letter from your doctor or consultant
• Caring responsibilities: [Courts Service to confirm what is accepted]
• New parent / childcare: [Courts Service to confirm what is accepted]
• Self-employed: [Courts Service to confirm what is accepted]

[Courts Service to confirm the accepted documents for each ground so applicants know what to send.]

Someone else cannot apply on your behalf, except in exceptional circumstances such as illness or incapacity — in which case an employer or another person may apply for you.

When you upload or post supporting documents, they may include personal or medical information. Read how we handle your personal details.

After you apply

See responding to your jury summons for how the decision is sent to you.

Get help

For help applying, or a reasonable adjustment so you can serve, see support and accessibility. Or contact the jury office at juries@courts.ie [Courts Service to confirm phone number and opening hours].