Fact check: What are the medical conditions that qualify for jury duty exemption in Colorado?

Executive summary — What medical conditions excuse jury duty in Colorado?

Colorado does not publish a fixed list of medical diagnoses that automatically exempt someone from jury duty; instead, local courts and the state judicial branch allow excusal or postponement when a physical or mental condition prevents service, typically requiring a written doctor's statement ^{[1] [2]}. Municipal courts (for example Colorado Springs) indicate they will consider illnesses or medical conditions with supporting medical documentation but tend to rarely excuse jurors, treating requests case-by-case ^{[2] [3]}. Recent municipal and state guidance emphasizes medical certification over enumerating specific qualifying diseases ^{[1] [4]}.

1. How Colorado’s system actually treats medical excuses — paperwork beats diagnoses

Colorado practice centers on functional ability rather than named illnesses: courts assess whether a person’s physical or mental disability prevents attendance or impairing jury service, and they require a medical professional’s written statement as evidence ^{[1] [4]}. Municipal courts explicitly instruct prospective jurors to submit a doctor’s note to support requests for excuse or postponement, and the jury office or commissioner reviews those statements before granting relief; this process means severity and functional limitation matter more than diagnostic labels ^{[2] [3]}. The emphasis on documentation creates a uniform administrative approach while leaving discretion at the local level.

2. No comprehensive list — the absence is itself an important fact

Multiple local court FAQs and state pages confirm there is no publicly posted list of specific medical conditions that automatically qualify for exemption; instead, eligibility turns on how a condition affects the person’s ability to serve ^{[4] [3]}. This lack of an enumerated list prevents easy binary answers — for example, chronic illnesses like COPD are not per se disqualifying, but severe cases that make leaving home or concentrating impossible could justify an excusal with medical proof ^{[5] [1]}. The practical implication is that potential jurors must engage the medical and court processes rather than rely on a checklist.

3. Municipal vs. district practice — some courts are stricter than others

City-level sources such as Colorado Springs stress that courts rarely excuse jurors and that jurors should expect scrutiny when requesting medical excusal, while district and state-level guidance reiterate the need for a physician’s attestation for physical or mental disabilities ^{[3] [1]}. This creates variance: some jurisdictions process hardship requests through a form or caller to the jury commissioner, others refer to district jury offices for disqualification reviews, and some give more weight to age-related hardship claims (over-70) when paired with medical concerns ^{[6] [3]}. The decentralized implementation means outcomes can differ depending on where you are summoned.

4. Examples reported in practice — COPD and breastfeeding illustrate the principle

Practical examples from municipal guidance and advisory conversations show the rule in action: breastfeeding a child has been treated as a temporary basis for excusal when supported by a medical statement, showing courts can grant time-limited relief for caregiving-related medical circumstances ^[4]. Conversely, a legal-advice exchange about COPD concluded that having COPD alone is not an automatic exemption; only when the condition is severe enough to prevent attendance or functioning will a doctor’s note likely succeed ^[5]. These examples illustrate that courts evaluate impact not diagnosis.

5. What jurors should do — documentation, timing, and contact points

Colorado guidance consistently directs potential jurors to obtain a written doctor’s statement describing the limiting effects of the condition and submit it promptly to the jury office or commissioner; some courts provide specific forms or phone lines for hardship or excusal requests ^{[3] [2]}. Because municipal courts say they “rarely” excuse jurors, submitting clear, time-stamped medical documentation and following local instructions increases the chance of approval. Jurors older than 70 may have additional procedural paths to request exemption when health creates hardship ^[6].

6. Conflicting incentives and possible agendas in the public materials

Court materials aim to preserve the integrity and representativeness of juries, which can create an institutional bias toward denying excuses absent strong proof, while advice forums or advocates for disability rights emphasize access and accommodation. Municipal messaging that courts “rarely” excuse jurors ^[3] can discourage valid claims, whereas state-level emphasis on disability-based excusal ^[1] provides legal footing for accommodations. Readers should note these differing emphases reflect competing institutional priorities: maintaining juror pools versus ensuring equitable access for people with disabilities.

7. Bottom line and immediate steps for someone with a medical concern

If you have a medical condition and are summoned for jury duty in Colorado, obtain a written statement from your health care provider describing functional limitations and submit it promptly with the court’s excusal/postponement form or by contacting the jury commissioner; expect local discretion and the possibility of denial if documentation is vague or the impairment is not shown to prevent service ^{[2] [1]}. Because no fixed list exists, the strongest predictor of success is clear medical documentation linking diagnosis to functional inability to serve, and following the local court’s procedural instructions.