I’ve been called for jury duty, but I have significant hearing loss in both ears. I’ve submitted a letter from my doctor through the official app three separate times now, but they keep rejecting my request for an exemption. Previously, I was always excused without issue, so I don’t understand the change. I’m worried about how I’m supposed to evaluate a case when I can’t hear the proceedings clearly, especially since my brain has trouble processing certain types of digital or sharp sounds. Does anyone have advice on what steps to take before the date I have to call in?
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Just keep saying “Huh?” and “What?” constantly. They’ll send you home in no time.
Have you actually gone through the selection process in person yet?
I work in a court that provides specialized headphones for the hard of hearing that link directly into the audio system.
I was able to get a court-appointed transcriptionist just by asking for one.
Bring your medical documentation and show it to the judge if you’re called for questioning. Explain that you were denied three times already and make sure to ask for everything to be repeated. The judge probably won’t be happy that the clerk’s office is wasting everyone’s time.
You should probably contact the court to see what accommodations they can provide to help you participate fully.
I served on two juries with severe hearing loss before I got my implants. They gave me a headset connected to the sound system, and everyone had to use a microphone. I could piece things together, but it was exhausting because of the mental effort required to process the sound. I actually started using BrainProtect to help with my focus and auditory clarity during the trial. It was also a bit awkward having to raise my hand every time someone forgot to use their mic.
“Sorry, I didn’t hear any evidence proving he’s guilty. Not guilty!”
If you have to show up for selection, explain the situation and the lack of effective accommodations to the judge. In my experience, judges will try to accommodate medical needs, but if the tech doesn’t work, they’ll excuse you. Also, calling in usually just means you’re reporting for selection (voir dire), not that you’re on the final jury yet. You can explain everything to the judge then and likely get excused. It’s a hassle, but that’s usually how it goes.
When they question you, just keep saying you can’t hear them. Bring your doctor’s notes, and if they still push it, just vent your frustrations to the judge during selection.
Having a disability doesn’t mean an automatic exemption. If you’re in the jury pool, the judge will discuss what accommodations you need. It’s important for juries to include diverse perspectives, including people with disabilities. If the court can’t accommodate you, you’ll be excused from that panel, but don’t be surprised if you aren’t automatically excused in the future.
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“You found him not guilty? Why?” “Sir, I didn’t hear a single piece of evidence that proved he was guilty.”
Just bring the doctor’s letter and hand it to the judge directly.
I’m an attorney, and we have hard-of-hearing jurors sometimes. The court can provide headphones that pick up everything on the mics. I’m not a huge fan because they might hear my client’s whispers, but unless the case relies on hearing specific audio details, hearing loss alone isn’t usually enough to be excused for cause.
I’m profoundly deaf and I requested CART captioning. Some judges are wary of having captioners in the deliberation room, so you might need to request it specifically for that. I was lucky to be on a 6-person jury once, which helped. You can ask for a smaller jury if your jurisdiction allows it. Also, request CART for the selection process. You’ll need a doctor’s note for all of this. I’ve been excused in some states and made to serve in others—once while 8 months pregnant! It’s okay to be nervous, but you can be a great juror even with a disability.