§ 8.01-341.2.Deferral or limitation of jury service for particular occupational inconvenience or for persons who have legal custody and are responsible for a child.
Chapter 11. Juries · Article 2. Jurors · Last amended 2019 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceLets a court excuse or limit a juror’s service for a single term when jury duty would create real occupational inconvenience — including being a full-time student in class or having sole responsibility for a young child — but only defers the obligation to a later term rather than eliminating it.
Full Text of § 8.01-341.2
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The court, at the request of a person selected for jury service or on its own motion, may exempt any person from jury service for a particular term of court, or limit that person's service to particular dates of that term, if serving on a jury during that term or certain dates of that term of court would cause such person a particular occupational inconvenience. Any such person who is selected for jury service, and who is exempted under the provisions of this section, shall not be discharged from his obligation to serve on a jury, but such obligation shall only be deferred until the term of court next after such particular occupational inconvenience ends. For purposes of this section, "occupational inconvenience" includes inconvenience to a person (i) who, during the term of court for which such person is selected for jury service, is enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited public or private institution of
higher education and who is attending classes at such institution during such term and (ii) who has legal custody of and is necessarily and personally responsible for a child or children 16 years of age or younger requiring continuous care by him during normal court hours. The provisions of this section shall not interfere with the exemption available under subdivision 8 of § 8.01-341.1.
Plain-English Summary
Jury duty does not have to collide head-on with a person’s job or family obligations. This section lets a court excuse or limit someone’s service for a single term of court, or narrow it to particular dates within that term, when serving would cause a genuine occupational inconvenience.
The section names two examples: a full-time student attending classes during the term, and a parent or guardian with sole responsibility for a child 16 or younger who needs continuous care during court hours. Either the juror or the court itself can raise the issue.
This is deferral, not forgiveness — the obligation to serve carries over to the next term after the inconvenience ends. And it does not crowd out the separate custody-based exemption available on request under subdivision 8 of § 8.01-341.1, which a qualifying caregiver can still use instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this section let a person skip jury duty entirely?
No. Service selected for is only deferred until the term of court next after the particular occupational inconvenience ends.
Does being a full-time college student qualify as an occupational inconvenience?
Yes, if the person is enrolled as a full-time student at an accredited institution and is attending classes during the term of jury service.
Can a court limit jury service to specific dates instead of exempting a person entirely?
Yes. The court may limit that person’s service to particular dates of the term rather than excusing the person entirely.
Who can raise the issue of occupational inconvenience — only the juror?
No. The court, at the request of a person selected for jury service or on its own motion, may grant this relief.
How does this section interact with the child-custody exemption in § 8.01-341.1?
This section does not interfere with the exemption available under subdivision 8 of § 8.01-341.1, so a qualifying caregiver keeps that separate option.
Amendment History
1981, c. 108; 1987, c. 155; 2018, c. 259; 2019, c. 518.
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Code of Virginia, published by the
Code of Virginia, Virginia Division of Legislative Automated Systems. Last verified July 16, 2026.
· Official source
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