Court sealU.S. District CourtEastern District of Virginia

Jury FAQs

Information for prospective jurors summoned to serve in the Eastern District of Virginia.

⚠️ Important Scam Warning

The EDVA Clerk's Office notes that scammers frequently impersonate court officials by phone threatening arrest or demanding immediate payment for "missed jury duty". A court official will never ask for gift cards, wire transfers, or credit card information over the phone.

If you missed a date, you should contact the jury administration department directly to clear up your reporting status. You can verify your status or contact a clerk by calling the EDVA automated system at (866) 704-0098 Ext. 800.

May I defer my jury service or be excused from serving?

We recognize that jury service rarely comes at a convenient time. But because that is true for nearly all individuals called for jury duty, most individuals will be required to serve.

If you want to defer your service to a later date or be excused, you must make your request in writing to the jury office of the courthouse to which you have been summoned. You must describe the reasons you believe you should be deferred or excused and provide as much information as possible, including supporting documentation. You may mail your request, or you may submit your request on-line through eJuror. Please include your completed Jury Information Form, which was sent to you with your summons, when mailing your request. You should make your request within five days of receiving your summons.

Among the more common reasons jury service is excused are:

  • Your age. Jurors must be at least 18 years old. Individuals who are 70 years old or older may ask to be excused because of their age.
  • You are not a U.S. citizen. Please provide a copy of your Green Card or any other legal document supporting your request.
  • You have a medical condition that would impede your jury service. Please provide a note from your doctor.
  • You recently served on a jury in state or federal court. Under Federal law, a person cannot be required to serve on jury duty more often than once every two years. Please include a copy of the official jury certificate you received at the end of your jury service.
  • You have not lived in the Eastern District of Virginia for at least one year or are no longer a resident of the Eastern District. Please include proof of your new address -- such as a yellow postal forwarding sticker, a copy of your new driver's license or your utility bill.
  • You are a police officer, firefighter, active member of the military, volunteer member of an ambulance crew or rescue squad, or an appointed or elected government official.

Among the more common reasons jury service is deferred are:

  • You care for a child or adult in your custody whose health or safety would be jeopardized by your absence.
  • You have a scheduled vacation during your jury service. Please provide a copy of your airplane ticket or travel itinerary.
  • You are a full-time student. Please submit proof of your enrollment.

It is your responsibility to verify that the request has been granted. If you mail, fax, or choose to submit your request on-line through eJuror, you may check the status of your request within 5 to 10 days after your submission to the court. You can call the toll-free automated jury information service at (866)704-0098 Ext.800.