CaliforniaOlder Californians can seek permanent jury-service excuses without medical notes
Beginning January 1, 2028, Californians age 80 or older may seek a permanent jury-service excuse for a medical impairment without a provider’s note.
What it does
Starting January 1, 2028, people age 80 or older may ask for a permanent jury-service excuse because of a medical impairment without a provider’s note.
After an eligible person submits a written attestation that an impairment permanently prevents jury service, the jury commissioner must grant the permanent excuse without requiring more medical records.
Argument forOlder people with lasting impairments could avoid the time and effort of obtaining medical paperwork when seeking a permanent jury-service excuse.
Argument againstBecause no extra medical records are required, the jury commissioner may have less outside documentation when reviewing a permanent excuse request.
More detail
A person age 80 or older may seek a permanent excuse from jury service. The option applies to people age 80 or older who have a medical impairment. The person does not need to provide a letter, memorandum, or note from a treating health care provider. This option begins January 1, 2028.
The jury commissioner must permanently excuse the person from jury service after receiving the required written attestation. The rule covers people age 80 or older who state that an impairment permanently makes them unable to perform jury service. The attestation must state that the person has an impairment that permanently renders them incapable of performing jury service. The person does not need to provide additional medical documentation. The Judicial Council may adopt or change court rules and publish forms to carry out this process. The mandatory excuse process becomes operative January 1, 2028.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 14Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 195, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 14Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 27Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 20Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 75. Noes 0. Page 6313.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 1359 Ahrens Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 19In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1359 Ahrens et al. By Cortese. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 19Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 5559.).Passed Senate
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 13).Major
- Jul 1From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jun 29In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 17From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 16
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- May 6Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Jan 27In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Jan 26Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 73. Noes 1. Page 3837.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 1359 Ahrens Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 22Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 22From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 1.) (January 22).Minor
- Jan 22In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.Minor
- Jan 22Assembly Rule 63 suspended. (Page 3806.)
- Jan 13From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (January 13). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 13Coauthors revised.
- Jan 5Re-referred to Com. on JUD. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.Minor
- Jan 5Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.Minor
- Jan 5From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. Read second time and amended.Major
- 2025
- Apr 1Re-referred to Com. on H. & C.D.Minor
- Mar 28From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on H. & C.D. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 28Referred to Coms. on H. & C.D. and L. GOV.Minor
- Feb 24Read first time.Minor
- Feb 22From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
- Feb 21Introduced. To print.Introduced
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