Fact check: What documentation is required to support a medical excuse for jury duty in Colorado?

1. Clear claims on who must provide written proof and what it should say — the papers leave little to interpretation

All sourced documents converge on a clear, enforceable requirement: a written statement from a qualified medical provider is necessary to substantiate a medical excuse from jury duty in Colorado. The statewide Disqualification Request form and explanatory pages specify that the statement must certify the juror cannot perform service because of a serious physical or mental illness and should indicate how long the disqualification should last ^[1]. Local municipal guidance echoes this requirement, using the same language about a doctor’s written statement to support an excusal or postponement ^{[2] [3]}. These materials present the documentation as evidentiary — not merely advisory — and instruct that the completed form and supporting statement be submitted to the court before the scheduled jury date ^[4]. The consistency across sources establishes a statewide administrative practice that courts expect an explicit medical certification tied to the juror’s court appearance date ^{[5] [4]}.

2. Who qualifies to sign the medical statement — the list is broader than “just physicians”

Colorado’s guidance expands acceptable certifiers beyond medical doctors to include several licensed and recognized practitioners, reflecting a broader access approach. The Disqualification Request language explicitly accepts statements from a licensed physician, licensed physician assistant, licensed advanced practice registered nurse, or an authorized Christian Science practitioner, recognizing different professional roles in providing medical attestations ^[1]. Municipal pages and jury FAQs repeat that licensed physician assistants and advanced practice nurses may certify disqualification, and some local guidance specifically mentions lactation professionals and nurses for breastfeeding-related temporary excuses ^{[1] [6]}. This cross-document agreement reduces disputes about whether non-physician clinicians can validate incapacity for jury service, and it aligns procedural instructions with contemporary clinical workforce composition ^{[4] [7]}.

3. The form and its procedural expectations — fill, sign, submit before your appearance

Practically, the requirement takes shape as a Request for Medical Disqualification or Postponement form that collects patient and provider details, the medical certification, and the provider’s signature. Multiple sources describe the same procedural steps: complete the form with patient information, have the certifying clinician fill the relevant portion describing incapacity and duration, and submit the package to the appropriate court office ahead of the summoned date ^{[4] [5]}. The state-level page specifies the necessity to attach the provider’s statement and the length of the requested disqualification, which courts use to decide whether to grant a temporary or longer disqualification ^[1]. Local court instructions mirror this workflow and emphasize timeliness, indicating that courts expect documentation in advance rather than on the day of jury orientation ^{[2] [3]}.

4. Special circumstances and exceptions — breastfeeding, age, and hardship receive separate treatment

The documentation regime also recognizes specific temporary circumstances that warrant different documentation standards or leniency. For breastfeeding parents, municipal guidance and FAQs permit temporary excusal when a medical professional (including lactation consultants, nurses, or physician assistants) provides a statement on official letterhead citing the juror’s appearance date and juror number ^[6]. Separately, guidance from Colorado Springs mentions that jurors over age 70 who show hardship may have cause for exemption, signaling non-medical pathways to avoid service for which different proof may apply ^[2]. These carve-outs show state and local courts attempt to balance jury service requirements against practical caregiving and age-related hardship concerns while still demanding formal documentation for administrative review ^{[6] [2]}.

5. Where guidance aligns and where courts may exercise discretion — what applicants should expect

Across state and local materials there is strong alignment on the core facts: medical excuses require written certification by an authorized provider and should state incapacity and duration, but courts retain discretion in granting temporary vs. permanent disqualification. All provided sources reiterate the same list of acceptable certifiers and procedural steps, indicating a consistent administrative standard statewide ^[1]. However, municipal pages emphasize local practices (for example, the Colorado Springs note on age and hardship), showing that court clerks may apply the statewide rules with discretionary variations in processing, required specificity, or leniency for timing ^{[2] [3]}. Applicants should therefore secure a dated, signed statement on official letterhead from an accepted provider, state the expected length of inability to serve, and submit it to the issuing court as promptly as possible to avoid denial or last-minute complications ^{[4] [7]}.