The following shall be exempt from serving on juries in civil and criminal cases:
§ 8.01-341.Who are exempt from jury service.
Chapter 11. Juries · Article 2. Jurors · Last amended 2026 · Last verified July 16, 2026
In one sentenceGrants automatic exemption from civil and criminal jury service to a defined list of public officials and public-safety personnel — from the President and Governor down to sheriffs, judges, licensed attorneys, jail officers, and fire marshals — regardless of whether they want to serve.
Full Text of § 8.01-341
1. The President and Vice President of the United States,
2. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General of the Commonwealth,
3. The members of both houses of Congress,
4. The members of the General Assembly, while in session or during a period when the member would be entitled to a legislative continuance as a matter of right under § 30-5,
5. Licensed practicing attorneys,
6. The judge of any court, members of the State Corporation Commission, members of the Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, and magistrates,
7. Sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, state police, and police in counties, cities and towns,
8. The superintendent of the penitentiary and his assistants and the persons composing the guard,
9. Superintendents and jail officers, as defined in § 53.1-1, of regional jails,
10. The elected clerk of any circuit court and such clerk's deputies,
11. The State Fire Marshal as described in § 9.1-206 and any officer appointed as a fire marshal pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 3 (§ 27-30 et seq.) of Title 27.
Plain-English Summary
Some public roles carry an automatic pass from jury duty, and this section spells out exactly who qualifies. At the top sit the President and Vice President, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General, and members of Congress and the General Assembly — though legislators get the exemption only while in session or during a period covering a legislative continuance.
The list then works down through people whose day jobs intersect with the court system or public safety: licensed practicing attorneys, judges, State Corporation Commission and Workers’ Compensation Commission members, magistrates, sheriffs and deputies, state and local police, prison and jail officials, elected circuit court clerks and their deputies, and fire marshals.
Unlike the exemptions available on request elsewhere in this chapter, these categories are automatic — a person on this list is exempt from jury service in both civil and criminal cases without having to ask.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are lawyers exempt from jury duty in Virginia?
Yes. Licensed practicing attorneys are exempt from serving on juries in civil and criminal cases.
Are police officers exempt from jury service in Virginia?
Yes. Sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, state police, and police in counties, cities, and towns are all exempt.
Is a judge exempt from jury duty?
Yes, along with members of the State Corporation Commission, the Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission, and magistrates.
Are members of the General Assembly always exempt from jury duty?
No. They are exempt only while in session or during a period when they would be entitled to a legislative continuance as a matter of right.
Does this exemption require the person to ask for it?
No. Unlike exemptions available on request, the categories listed here are exempt automatically from serving on juries in civil and criminal cases.
Amendment History
Code 1950, § 8-208.6; 1973, c. 439; 1977, cc. 458, 617; 1978, cc. 176, 340; 1980, c. 535; 1982, c. 315; 1987, c. 256; 1990, c. 758; 1993, c. 572; 1998, c. 83; 2025, c. 92; 2026, c. 117.
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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