What are the specific medical conditions that qualify for jury duty exemption in Colorado?
Executive summary
Colorado law does not publish a fixed checklist of medical conditions that automatically exempt a person from jury service; instead, statutes and court guidance allow disqualification or temporary excusal when a physical or mental condition prevents a person from “rendering satisfactory juror service,” with the judge or jury commissioner empowered to request and review medical documentation [1][2]. In practice courts accept a range of temporary and permanent impairments—from conditions that make sitting or concentrating impossible to breastfeeding needs—but determinations are individualized and vary by local court [3][4].
1. What the statute actually requires: functional incapacity, not a named-disease list
Colorado’s jury-selection law frames excusal around ability rather than enumerating specific illnesses: a person may be excused or temporarily excused if a physical or mental condition prevents satisfactory juror service, and the judge or jury commissioner may require a medical statement to support the claim [1]. The law emphasizes individualized assessment—courts decide whether the condition’s impact on duties like observing testimony, deliberating, or sitting through proceedings makes service unworkable [1].
2. How courts evaluate medical claims: individualized scrutiny and documentation
Courts and jury offices commonly ask for a written medical statement on official letterhead describing limitations, expected duration, and whether the condition is temporary or permanent; the medical documentation is not a public record and can be requested before the summons date [2][3][1]. Jury commissioners instruct prospective jurors to obtain a statement from a physician, PA, APN or similar practitioner describing physical or mental restrictions that would prevent satisfactory service [2][3].
3. Examples courts accept: temporary injuries, chronic disabilities, breastfeeding, and severe sensory loss
Public-facing guidance and local court practice show examples rather than exhaustive rules: temporary medical problems can justify a postponement, chronic disabilities that preclude participation can result in excusal, and breastfeeding is explicitly listed as a temporary excuse when accompanied by a medical statement [5][1][3]. Practitioner commentary notes distinctions—an acute, transient injury (e.g., a short-term eye or back problem) may yield a deferment while a permanent disability (e.g., blindness or inability to sit through trial) may lead to permanent disqualification—highlighting the functional, fact-specific nature of decisions [4].
4. Local practice matters: municipal and district courts differ in application and paperwork
Municipal courts and county jury commissioners frequently reiterate the same legal standard but enforce differing administrative rules: some municipal sites state bluntly that “any illness or medical condition that would prohibit you from appearing for jury duty will require a written doctor’s statement,” and local forms mirror the statewide medical-excuse template [6][7][2]. Jurors are advised to contact the local jury commissioner before the reporting date to submit documentation and seek accommodation or postponement [1][8].
5. The process for temporary versus permanent relief and how long excusal lasts
Temporary excuses are granted with an expiration determined by the court; a person who is temporarily excused becomes eligible again when that excuse expires, while permanent disqualification removes the person from service until statutes or local rules say otherwise [1]. The judge or jury commissioner determines the appropriate length of any postponement and may require updated medical proof if the condition persists [1][2].
6. Competing perspectives, hidden incentives, and practical implications
Advocates for juror inclusion stress that the baseline presumes broad citizen service and thus set a high bar for permanent excusal, whereas advocates for accessibility point to the need for predictable rules and reasonable accommodations for chronic conditions—tension reflected in local courts’ emphasis on individualized medical statements rather than blanket exemptions [1][9]. Legal-advice sources note an implicit incentive for courts to prefer postponements over permanent removals to protect juror pools, and some municipal pages explicitly warn that excusals are rarely granted without proper documentation [10][4].
7. Key takeaway and limits of available reporting
There is no authoritative public list of specific medical diagnoses that automatically qualify a person for jury excusal in Colorado; instead, the standard is functional inability to perform juror duties supported by medical documentation, with breastfeeding listed as a recognized temporary reason and local practice shaping outcomes—reporting and public forms make clear how to apply but do not provide an exhaustive catalogue of conditions [1][3][2]. This summary relies on Colorado Judicial Branch materials, local municipal pages, statutory text, and practitioner guidance; if a reader needs a definitive ruling for a particular condition, the statute and local jury commissioner are the controlling sources [1][8].