Jury Duty Excuse Letter Template for Texas
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Texas Bar verified. Reggie London (Texas Bar No. 24043514) and Njeri London (Texas Bar No. 24043266) are the co-founding partners of L and L Law Group, PLLC — based at 5899 Preston Rd, Suite 101 in Frisco, Texas (Collin County), with many 5-star Google reviews, and available 24/7 for criminal defense consultations.
Table of Contents
Basic letter format
Sample structure:
[Your Name] [Address] [City, State, ZIP] [Phone] [Email] [Date] [Court Name] [Court Address] [Re: Jury Summons – Juror Number XXXX] [Reporting Date: MM/DD/YYYY] Dear [Judge / Clerk]: I am writing to respectfully request [exemption / deferral] from my jury duty obligation scheduled for [date]. [Specific reason for request — see below] [Supporting documentation referenced] [Specific request — exemption permanently, deferral to specific date] I [respect the importance of jury service / am willing to serve at later date]. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, [Your Signature] [Your Printed Name] [Juror Number]
Statutory exemption letters
Reference Texas Government Code §62.106:
- Over 75. "I am over 75 years old (DOB: XX/XX/XXXX) and request permanent exemption under Texas Government Code §62.106."
- Child care. "I am sole caregiver for child under 12. No reasonable alternative care available. Request exemption under §62.106."
- Student. "I am currently enrolled student at [institution]. Final exams during scheduled service. Request deferral."
- Disabled caretaker. "I am primary caretaker of disabled [relationship]. No reasonable alternative care. Request exemption under §62.106."
- Veteran 65+. "I am veteran age 65+. Request exemption under §62.106."
- Active military. "I am on active military duty. Documentation enclosed. Request deferral."
Hardship excuse letters
For non-statutory hardships:
- Medical hardship. "I am scheduled for [procedure / treatment] on [date] which conflicts with jury service. Documentation from physician enclosed. Request deferral until [date]."
- Work hardship. "I am self-employed [profession] with no coverage. Serving would cause [specific business impact]. Documentation enclosed. Request deferral."
- Travel hardship. "I have non-refundable travel [date range] previously planned. Documentation enclosed. Request deferral."
- Family emergency. "Family member [relationship] requires immediate care due to [circumstances]. Documentation enclosed."
- Financial hardship. "Substantial financial impact from extended service — only sole income source. Specific impact: [details]. Request deferral."
Supporting documentation
- Medical excuse. Doctor's letter on letterhead with specific dates
- Childcare excuse. Documentation of children, daycare arrangements
- Travel excuse. Flight/hotel confirmations, dates
- School excuse. Enrollment verification, exam schedule
- Work excuse. Business documentation, schedule, financial impact
- Military excuse. Orders, ID card copies
- Caregiver excuse. Documentation of caregiving relationship and absence of alternatives
- Veteran/age. Photo ID, DD-214 for veterans
Submission and follow-up
- Submit before service date. As early as possible
- Method specified by summons. Mail, online, in-person
- Retain copies of all documentation
- Follow up if no response. Within reasonable time
- Appear if not granted. Until receiving formal response
- Reschedule date in writing. When deferred
- Keep records of all correspondence
Texas Penalty Group 1 Charges by Weight
Texas Health & Safety Code § 481.115 charges escalate by weight:
| Weight | Offense | Range | Fine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1 g | State jail felony | 180 days-2 years state jail | $10,000 |
| 1-4 g | 3rd degree felony | 2-10 years TDCJ | $10,000 |
| 4-200 g | 2nd degree felony | 2-20 years TDCJ | $10,000 |
| 200-400 g | 1st degree felony | 5-99 years/life TDCJ | $100,000 |
| 400 g+ | Enhanced 1st degree | 10-99 years/life TDCJ | $100,000 |
Have a Texas legal question?
Call L and L Law Group for a free, confidential consultation. We handle criminal defense across Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties.
Call (972) 370-5060In our practice defending Texas criminal cases, we have represented clients in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant County criminal courts on the full Texas Penal Code and Health & Safety Code spectrum. Reggie's prosecutor background in Dallas County means we know the State's evidentiary playbook; Njeri's trial-trained motion practice anchors the suppression-driven defense work.
Key Legal Terms
- Penalty Group
- Texas Health & Safety Code § 481.102-481.105 classification of controlled substances by abuse potential and accepted medical use. Determines weight tiers and punishment ranges.
- Article 38.23
- Texas Code of Criminal Procedure exclusionary rule. Evidence obtained in violation of any federal or Texas constitutional or statutory provision is inadmissible against the accused.
- Aggregation
- Texas H&S § 481.002(5) rule that the total weight of any controlled substance, including adulterants and dilutants, counts toward the offense weight tier.
- 3g Offense
- CCP Article 42A.054 list of offenses ineligible for judicial probation and requiring 50% sentence served before parole eligibility (formerly Article 42.12 § 3g).
- Pretrial Diversion
- Pre-charge alternative under CCP Article 32.02 in which the prosecution agrees to dismiss charges upon successful completion of conditions (counseling, community service, restitution).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I write a Texas jury duty excuse letter?
Include: your information, court information, juror number, reporting date, specific reason for request (statutory exemption or hardship), supporting documentation, specific request (exemption or deferral), willingness to serve later. Submit before service date through method specified.
What's a good Texas jury duty excuse?
Statutory exemptions (Texas Government Code §62.106): over 75, child care, student, disabled person caretaker, religious orders, veteran 65+, active military. Hardship excuses: medical, family emergency, work hardship, pre-scheduled travel, school exams. Documentation essential.
Does my Texas jury duty excuse letter need to be notarized?
Generally no — sworn statement of facts sufficient. Some specific exemptions or hardships may require additional verification. Documentation from third parties (doctors, employers, schools) typically requested when applicable. Check court instructions.
Can I email my Texas jury duty excuse?
Depends on county. Many courts accept email submission. Some require mail or in-person. Many counties offer online response portals. Check specific court instructions on summons. Use method specified by court.
How early should I submit Texas jury duty excuse letter?
As early as possible — at minimum 1-2 weeks before reporting date. Allows time for court response. Follow up if no response received. Late requests have lower success rate. Better to over-prepare than miss deadline.
