Maine § 1213. - Excuses from jury service

§ 1213.. Excuses from jury service

1.  Determination.  Upon request of a prospective juror, the presiding justice or the clerk of court acting under the supervision of the presiding justice shall determine whether the prospective juror is excused from jury service. The determination must be made on the basis of information provided on the juror qualification form, supplemented by other competent evidence when considered necessary to the determination.

2.  Basis for excuse.  A qualified prospective juror may be excused from jury service only upon a showing of undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity or inability to render satisfactory jury service because of physical or mental disability.

A. A person claiming to be excused on the grounds of disability may be required to submit a physician's certificate or accredited Christian Science practitioner's certificate. The certifying physician or Christian Science practitioner is subject to inquiry by the court at its discretion.   [PL 1999, c. 87, §1 (NEW).]

B. Municipal election officials, as defined in Title 21‑A, section 1, subsection 14, are excused from serving on a jury on the day of an election. State election officials and municipal clerks and registrars and their employees are excused from serving on a jury for 31 days prior to an election.   [PL 1999, c. 87, §1 (NEW).]

C. A person 80 years of age or older who does not wish to serve on a jury is excused from jury service.   [PL 2013, c. 74, §1 (NEW).]

3.  Extent of excuse; record.  Depending upon the circumstances, a juror may be finally excused from jury service, be required to serve at a later specific time or be required to serve for a period of time less than the usual 15 court days. The clerk shall enter the determination regarding the requested excuse and the reason for the determination in the appropriate record kept for that purpose.