Jury Services

Jurors can be disqualified if they either provide paperwork showing they are under conservatorship, or they are a conservator for another person. To submit this disqualification online, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire. Once complete, upload conservatorship papers by clicking the upload documents tab.

Jurors can be disqualified for the following reasons: they are on parole, they are on felony probation, they are serving community service for a felony, they are a registered sex offender, they have committed a malfeasance in office and their civil rights have not been restored, or they are incarcerated. To submit this disqualification online, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire.

If they have a prior felony but are not on parole, felony probation, serving community service for a felony, a registered sex offender and have not committed a malfeasance in office, they are now eligible to serve jury duty.

Jurors can be disqualified because they are not a U.S. citizen. To submit this disqualification online, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire.

Jurors can be disqualified for not being a resident of Kern County. Students who are going to school out of the county, but return home for breaks do not fall under this disqualification. To submit this disqualification online, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire. 

If they have been disqualified in the past for not living in Kern County, proof will also need to be submitted by uploading necessary documentation to the Juror Portal through the upload documents tab.

Jurors can upload a copy of their current driver license or ID showing residence outside the county. A copy of a current rental or mortgage agreement or utility bill, including name and address, is also accepted. We will also accept a current copy of automobile insurance bill, including name and current address. You can also email these documents to us. If you did not fill out the questionnaire form, please send a signed and dated statement advising you are not a resident of Kern County with your documents.

Please update your information with the DMV and/or contact Kern County Voter Registration to update your address. Otherwise, you may be summoned in the future and again would be required to send proof of address.

Jurors can be disqualified if they are under 18 years old. To submit this disqualification online, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire. Once complete, upload proof at the upload documents tab. Acceptable documents include birth certificate, ID, driver license or school ID, including date of birth.

Jurors can be excused from jury service due to dependent care obligations. They must meet one of the following requirements:

They are a lactating person or foster parent. To submit this excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire.

They are a stay at home parent or relative with a child 13 years old or younger, and there is no other child care available. To submit an excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire. Please note, if all children at home are older than 14, our department does not have authority to approve excusal.

They work and only have child care while the children are in school. To submit an excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire.  On the questionnaire, please let us know you only have child care while working, the hours you work, the ages of your children and that there is no other child care available. Please note, if all children at home are 14 years or older, our department does not have the authority to approve excusal.

If they care for a dependent relative under the age of 70, the juror needs a note from the relative’s doctor stating the juror is a care provider and needs to be excused from jury duty. The letter must be signed and dated on letterhead or prescription pad. To submit an excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire and upload necessary documentation by clicking the upload documents tab.

If they care for a dependent relative over the age of 70 who lives with the juror and they are their full time caregiver, the juror can be excused without a doctor’s note. To submit an excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire. On the questionnaire, please let us know you are a full time care provider for your relative, their age and that you live together. 

A juror can be excused if a relative calls and says the juror is deceased. A relative can also submit this excuse online by clicking on the Juror Portal and filling out the questionnaire.

A juror who is employed outside the United States can be excused by submitting a signed and dated letter from their employer, on company letterhead, stating they are employed outside the U.S and how long their assignment is anticipated to last. If they will be back in the county within the next six months, they should call to reschedule. To submit an excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire and upload necessary documentation by clicking the upload documents tab.

Jurors can be excused for financial hardship if their employer does not pay them for jury duty. To be excused, a juror must submit a letter from their employer on company letterhead stating they will not be paid for jury duty. Please make sure the juror name and badge number is included. The employer must sign and date the letter. If the employer does not have letterhead, please also submit a business card with the signee's name, copy of current business license, or business stamp the letter. To submit an excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire and upload necessary documentation by clicking the upload documents tab.

If the juror is self-employed they will need to submit a business card or copy of current business license, including their first and last name. They can also submit schedule C, D or E of last year’s tax form. A copy of a fictitious business statement is also acceptable. If the juror is not licensed and does not have a business card, they can submit two customer letters stating they are providing services for them and if they report for jury duty, they will not be paid. Letters need to be signed and dated by the customers. To submit an excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire and upload necessary documentation by clicking the upload documents tab.

If the juror is a school district substitute employee, or works for a daycare center, an excuse will not be granted. They can reschedule for the nearest break. If the daycare center does not have a break, they will need to submit a letter letting us know they are a year-round daycare provider with no breaks and will not be paid for serving jury duty. Please make sure the juror name or badge number is included. To submit an excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire and upload necessary documentation by clicking the upload documents tab.

Jurors can be excused for being an active military member. Please note, reserve military members are not exempt. To submit this excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire.

Jurors can be excused if they live outside the city in which they are summoned and they do not have transportation. To submit this excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire.

Jurors can be temporarily excused by submitting a doctor’s note excusing them from jury duty for medical reasons. It must be on letterhead or prescription pad. It must be signed and dated. If the note is on computer-generated letterhead, a business card must be attached. The note will excuse a juror for three years from the date on the letter. To submit an excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire and upload necessary documentation by clicking the upload documents tab.

Jurors can also submit a copy of the most recent Social Security Income or Social Security Benefits letter. This will excuse a juror for three years from the date on the letter. To submit an excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire and upload necessary documentation by clicking the upload documents tab.

Jurors can be permanently excused by submitting a doctor’s note excusing them from jury duty for medical reasons. Please note, the doctor must state this is a permanent excuse. It must be on letterhead or prescription pad. It must be signed and dated. If the doctor’s note is on computer-generated letterhead, a business card must be attached. To submit an excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire and upload necessary documentation by clicking the upload documents tab.

If the juror is a client of BARC, Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, an assisted living center or hospice care, a signed and dated note on the agency’s letterhead will be accepted. If the note is on computer-generated letterhead, a business card must be attached. To submit an excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire and upload necessary documentation by clicking the upload documents tab.

If the juror is over 70 years old and has a medical issue, they can be permanently excused. A doctor’s not is not required. They need to notify Jury Services by phone, or by filling out the questionnaire on the Juror Portal. 

Jurors can be excused if they are a peace officer and fall under penal code 830.1 or 830.2(a). Correctional officers, reserves, volunteers or retired law enforcement officers are not exempt. To submit this excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire. You must include your badge number and agency name. 

A juror can be excused for being a student if they are going to school outside of Kern County and are not home for breaks. On the questionnaire, please let us know you are not home for breaks. To submit this excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire. 

If the juror is home for breaks, we will reschedule them for when they are home.

If the juror goes to a vocational school (UOP, SJVC, or Santa Barbara Business College) they will need to submit a signed and dated letter from their counselor. It must be on college letterhead, stating they are attending college and when they graduate. It must be signed. If they graduate within six months from their original summons date, they will be rescheduled. If they only attend night school, or certain days, they cannot be excused. To submit an excuse, click on the Juror Portal and fill out the questionnaire and upload necessary documentation by clicking the upload documents tab.

You are eligible for jury duty if you:

1. Are a citizen of the United States
2. Are a resident of Kern County
3. Are at least 18 years old 
4. Are not currently on felony probation, parole, serving community service for a felony, a registered sex offender, and have not committed malfeasance in office and have not had your civil rights restored
5. Are not under a conservatorship and the court has not appointed someone to handle your affairs 

Your name was selected at random from information compiled by the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Elections Department.

If you have been summoned for jury duty and fail to report to Jury Services as directed or to be excused from attendance, the following sanctions may apply to you:

1. You may be compelled to attend.
2. Following an Order to Show Cause hearing, the Court may find you in contempt of court whereby you could be fined or jailed, or both.

The call in period for Jury Duty is one week. When you are asked to report you are required to serve a minimum of one day. 

• If you are not involved in a trial by the end of your first day of service, you will turn in your juror badge and your service is complete for the next 12 months.
• If you are involved in a trial, excused by a judge and not rescheduled, your service will be complete for the next 12 months.
• If you have been instructed to call in for five days and your group is not told to report to the Jury Services Department by the end of the fifth day, your term of service is complete.

You may request a postponement of your jury duty to a more convenient time. Postponements may be up to six months from your original summons date. If you have any questions, please contact the Jury Services Department at (661) 610-6800.

If your postponement request is granted, you will receive a new summons in the mail prior to your requested date.

You may also call the Jury Services Automated Jury System and use your touch-tone telephone to postpone your jury duty without speaking to a Jury Services Representative.

To view types of excuses accepted by the Jury Commissioner please read the topics , Types of Excuses and Disqualifications, on this page.

Your employer is required to let you off to serve as a juror under Labor Code Section 230. Your employer may not discharge you from your employment if you are called for jury duty if you provide your employer with reasonable notice. Your employer does not have to pay you for the time you are serving as a juror.

An average Civil trial lasts 3 days.
An average Criminal trial lasts 4 days.
A trial may last from one day to several weeks.

You will be notified of the length of the case if you are sent to a courtroom.

Jury trials normally:

1. Courts are open are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
2. Recess for lunch between noon and 1:30 p.m.

You should arrive to court promptly while you are on jury duty because the trial cannot begin until all the jurors are present. If you are late, the judge may fine you. If you are not given the courtrooms number, please contact the Jury Services Office at (661) 610-6800 or via email WMJury@Kern.Courts.CA.Gov.

You are not permitted to carry weapons into the court buildings. You will be scanned for weapons when entering the courthouse. 

The following items are banned:

1. aerosol cans-any type
2. alcohol
3. ammunition
4. camera/video camera
5. chains-any size
6. drug paraphernalia
7. firearms
8. forks
9. glass bottles
10. hair spray
11. handcuff keys
12. knitting needles
13. large safety pins
14. laser pointers
15. lighters
16. markers
17. matches
18. paint
19. spray cans
20. martial arts items
21. metal knuckles
22. nail files-any type
23. nail clippers
24. p38 can opener
25. pepper spray
26. mace
27. dog repellents
28. perfume/cologne
29. cable
30. rope
31. razors
32. box cutters
33. recording devices
34. retractable id holders
35. retractable key holders
36. scissors-any type/size
37. screwdrivers
38. spikes
39. hair picks
40. studded belts
41. stun gun
42. toy gun
43. tweezers
44. replica guns
45. tools-any size
46. weapons
47. knives
48. wire combs-any size/type

Business Casual is HIGHLY recommended.

The following will get you removed from court:

• Shorts
• Backless or strapless garments, or garments with "spaghetti" or thin straps baring the shoulders, including halter tops
• Bare midriffs including "crop tops" (skin should not show between the shirt/top hem and the waistband of the skirt/pant)
• Tank Tops
• Hats shall not be permitted unless worn for religious purposes
• Glasses with darkened lenses unless prescription or worn for medical reasons
• Bare feet are not permitted
• Chewing gum
• Food or drinks
• The use of tobacco products is prohibited throughout the courthouse

You should be courteous and alert. You may read while you are waiting for court to begin or during recesses but you may not read while court is in session. You must turn off your pager and cell phone. No gum chewing, food or drink is allowed in the courtroom. Check with your Jury Commissioner if you have any doubts about proper courtroom conduct.

Juror parking is available just south of the court buildings and the railroad tracks.

A shuttle is available to take you from the designated juror parking areas to the front of the courthouse and Jury Services. The shuttle hours are as follows: 

     7:30 a.m. - 10 a.m.

     11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

     4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

For those jurors who have a disability placard and wish to serve, you can park in ANY timed area, as long as your placard is visible. Please do not park in “Police Only” spots or county assigned parking spots.

1. Park only in the juror parking areas outlined in red on the permit. All juror parking areas are located south of the railroad tracks. You may receive a parking citation if:
   1. You park in other than designated juror parking lots.
   2. The wheels of your vehicle are outside the painted lines of the parking space.
   3. Any part of your vehicle is over the lines painted on the parking lot.
2. Allow sufficient time to locate available, all-day parking prior to reporting. Please use the pedestrian underpass at 14th Street and Chester Avenue or the pedestrian overpass south of Mechanics Bank Arena to avoid the train.
3. Detach the parking permit on the summons and place the permit on your dashboard.