In Ontario, a potential juror must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years of age, and a resident of Ontario.

Who cannot serve jury duty?

Anyone who has been a juror in the previous three years cannot serve again. As well, there are a number of occupations that make an individual exempt from jury duty, including anyone employed as or licensed as a:

• medical practitioner (member of College of Physicians and Surgeons) who is actively engaged in practice
• veterinary surgeon who is actively engaged in practice
• coroner
• police officer
• firefighter regularly employed by a fire department
• superintendent, jailer or keeper of a prison, correctional institution or lockup
• warden of a penitentiary
• sheriff or a sheriff’s officer
• member of the regular and special armed forces and members of the reserve forces on active service
• lawyer (barrister or solicitor) or student-at-law (articling student or Law Practice Program student during work term)
• officer of a court of justice
• judge or a justice of the peace
• member of the Privy Council of Canada, the Executive Council of Ontario, the Senate, the House of Commons or the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
• persons convicted of certain criminal offences

You are still required to fill out the questionnaire and return it if you are employed in one of these professions.

Exemptions from jury duty

There are also circumstances in which you may be eligible to apply for a deferral or exemption from jury duty. For more information, view 7752 Can you refuse jury duty?

Get Help

If you have a criminal record and want to erase it, call toll-free 1-888-808-3628 or learn more at Pardon Partners. It’s easier than you think.

If you have been charged with a crime, it is important to hire an experienced criminal defence lawyer as soon as possible. Contact our preferred criminal defence expert, Calvin Barry Criminal Lawyers for a free consultation at 416-938-5858.

								
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