Californians age 80 and older will soon be able to say goodbye to jury duty for good, thanks to a new state law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2028, seniors in this age group will be allowed to request a permanent exemption from jury service due to a medical condition, without having to provide a note from a doctor. The measure, Assembly Bill 1359, simply requires older adults to attest that a health impairment prevents them from serving. Those who still wish to participate in jury duty will remain free to do so.
The bill’s author, Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens, a Cupertino Democrat, said the idea grew out of a conversation with a constituent, former Santa Clara County Supervisor Dianne McKenna, who described the difficulty she faced trying to secure a jury exemption for her elderly husband.
“Seniors are great jurors who can and will continue to serve if they’re willing and able to,” Ahrens said in a statement. “But if they cannot, they will no longer have to jump through hoops to permanently opt out.”
California has traditionally taken a more flexible approach to age-related jury exemptions than some other states. Florida, for example, allows residents 70 and older...