Jury Services

Beginning January 1, 2022, the list of resident state tax filers, the list of registered voters, and the Department of Motor Vehicles' list of licensed drivers and identification cardholders residing within the area served by the Court are used as source lists for prospective jurors. Names are randomly selected from the countywide population by computer. If your name and address do not match exactly amongst the three sources, you may have more than one record in the jury system. If this happens, you may receive more than one summons in a 1-year period. If you receive more than one summons in a 1-year period, please contact the Jury Office at 415-551-3608.

The Court receives its data from these sources each year in October. If you have moved out of the City recently, the Court may have still received your name. Registering to vote in another county does not necessarily remove your name from the SF Department of Elections rolls; you should also call the Department of Elections to tell them that you no longer live in the City.

There is no statutory exemption for any occupation except certain categories of peace officers. However, a juror may be disqualified for service for various reasons, such as citizenship, residency, or prior service within the past 12 months. A juror may also ask to be excused for various reasons, such as financial hardship or the need to provide care to another person. The postcard summons has a QR code or URL to submit a request to be excused, postponed, or disqualified from jury service.

In order to accommodate your schedule, you may postpone, or reschedule, the start of your jury service once to a more convenient time. The postponement cannot exceed 6 months,  and must be requested before the start of your service week. You may postpone your service over the phone by calling the Jury Office at (415) 551-3608, entering your badge number (located on the back of the postcard summons), and following the instructions for postponement. You may also postpone your service by using the QR code or URL to submit a request for postponement.

Excuses from service may be granted in specific circumstances. If you want to request to be excused, you may submit a request online by using the QR code or URL on your postcard summons. Requests for excuse or disqualification must be received online and cannot be accepted over the phone. To check on the status of your request, you may call the automated system at (415) 551-3608 and enter your badge number.

Yes. The Court realizes prospective jurors may be summoned at an inconvenient time and is willing to postpone service to a more convenient time. You may postpone your jury service by calling the automated system at (415) 551-3608 or by using the QR code or URL to submit a request for postponement. Jurors are entitled to a one-time postponement not to exceed 6 months from the summons date.

Yes. The U.S. Constitution and the California State Constitution guarantee the right to trial by jury. A Postcard Summons is mailed to you to determine if you are qualified to serve jury duty (See Code of Civil Procedure, Section 203(a).)

You may be required to appear anytime during the 5-day period of your jury service. You are required to obtain reporting instructions, by calling the Court at (415) 551-3608 or visiting the website, every day for the duration of the one week of jury service. You are required to follow your reporting instructions for every day of your service week.

If you are not required to report during the 5-day period, your jury service is completed for one year.

If you are asked to report and come into the courthouse but are not assigned to a courtroom for jury selection on the day you report, your jury service is completed for one year.

If you are assigned to a courtroom for jury selection that is not completed by the end of that day, you are required to return to finish the selection for that trial.

If you are selected to serve on a trial, your term of service will be the length of that trial.