Jury Commission Information

Information for Jurors

Supporters of Jurors Information

General Jury Duty Information

(Disclaimer: Please note that this document is intended for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and may not address every individual circumstance. These guidelines are provided solely to assist healthcare providers in submitting medical excuse documentation and should not be considered comprehensive or authoritative.)

If a prospective juror under your care requests to be excused from jury duty due to medical reasons, please follow these general documentation guidelines to ensure their request can be properly reviewed by the Jury Commission.:

Temporary Medical Excuse

Under Illinois Law (705 ILCS 305/10.2) & (705 ILCS 305/10.3)

When submitting a temporary medical excuse, please include the following:

  • Juror's full name
  • Juror's date of birth
  • Juror ID number (if available — located on the jury summons)
  • A brief statement indicating that the juror should be excused due to a temporary medical condition
  • The expected duration of the medical limitation or recovery period
  • Your professional opinion that the juror is temporarily unable to serve

The letter must be:

  • Printed on your official letterhead
  • Signed by a licensed medical professional
  • Dated

Note: If the juror is age 70 or older may request to be excused without submitting a medical excuse. Please do not send medical documentation for these jurors.

Permanent Medical Excuse

Under Illinois Law (705 ILCS 305/10.4)

When submitting a permanent medical excuse, please include the following:

  • Juror's full name
  • Juror's date of birth
  • Juror ID number (if available — located on the jury summons)
  • A brief statement indicating that the juror should be excused due to a permanent medical condition
  • Your professional opinion that the juror will never be able to serve

The letter must be:

  • Printed on your official letterhead
  • Signed by a M.D.
  • Dated

Note: If the juror is age 70 or older may request to be excused without submitting a medical excuse. Please do not send medical documentation for these jurors.

Caregiver Excuse

Under Illinois Law (705 ILCS 305/10.2)

If the juror is a sole primary caregiver for someone with a disability or medically diagnosed behavioral condition, and there is no reasonable alternative care available, please include:

  • Juror's full name
  • Juror's date of birth
  • Juror ID number (if available — located on the jury summons)
  • A brief statement indicating the juror is the sole caregiver for a person under your medical care
  • The expected duration of the patient's medical limitation or recovery period
  • Your professional opinion that caregiving responsibilities temporarily prevent the juror from serving

The letter must be:

  • Printed on your official letterhead
  • Signed by a licensed medical professional
  • Dated

Note: If the juror is a caregiver for a child under the age of 12, they should contact the Jury Commission directly for guidance. If the juror is a nursing mother, they do not need a medical excuse, please have them contact the jury commission directly.

 

Submission Instructions

Medical excuse letters must be submitted directly to the Jury Commission.

Preferred Method:

  • 📧Email: PDF attachments sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Alternative Method:

  • 📠Fax: (815) 969-0274

Be sure to include the juror's full name, date of birth, and Juror ID number in all correspondence.

Additional Information

  • Verification: It is the juror’s responsibility to verify that their request has been received and processed. They may call the Automated Jury Information System at (815) 319-4890.
  • Assistance: For additional questions, contact the Jury Commission at (815) 319-4880 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Thank you for your active role in shaping justice in Winnebago County—jury duty is where civic duty meets impact.