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Jury Duty for College Students

You're taking 15 credit hours and finals are next week, but the county wants you to spend the next five days sitting in a courtroom. Can they force you to miss class?

The Student Exemption

Most states are highly accommodating to full-time college students. While being a student is not an 'automatic' permanent exemption, courts will almost always grant you a postponement. You will usually be asked to delay your service until your summer or winter break.

Out-of-State Students

If you attend college out of state, the rules are even easier. If you are registered to vote at your parents' house in Texas, but you attend college in New York, you cannot physically serve in Texas. You simply fill out the disqualification section on the summons stating you no longer live in the jurisdiction (or are a non-resident for the school year) and provide your out-of-state college address as proof.

How to Postpone

Do not just ignore the summons. Log onto the court's online portal or mail back the questionnaire. Check the box for 'postponement' and select a date in mid-July. If the system requires proof, you can upload a copy of your current class schedule or your unofficial transcript.

Key Takeaway

Courts will not force you to miss classes. You can easily postpone your service to the summer break, and out-of-state students can be disqualified entirely for living outside the county.