Jurors may apply to defer their jury attendance once only for a maximum of six months if attending on the initial summoned date would cause undue hardship or serious inconvenience.
This flexibility to postpone jury service provides more time to make any necessary arrangements to attend later at a time more suitable.
Some reasons for deferring include:
- Planned travel.
- Health concerns.
- Personal inconvenience.
- Important commitment.
- Moving to a different district.
- Primary carer responsibilities.
- Employment or business commitments.
- Enrolled student with study commitments.
It is important to consider the deferral date carefully and make all necessary arrangements to attend when next summoned for that date. Employers, family members or court staff are not able to nominate a deferral date on your behalf.
Courts do not sit on public holidays and have a two-week mid-year break and annual recess between Christmas and New Year. Contact the court location on your summons for guidance of these dates.
Changes sometimes occur to trial dates, and regional circuit courts have less frequent sittings. In these circumstances you will be summoned for the next available court sitting date after your nominated deferral date.
Applying for Deferral
Apply well in advance and allow up to 7 business days for the summoning officer to assess and respond prior to your summons attendance date.
The application will require to you provide the reason for deferring and to nominate a future date to attend starting on a Monday.
The quickest way to apply is online by logging into the Jury WA Portal using the summons number located on your Jury Summons and your date of birth.
Alternatively complete the Application for Deferral included with your Jury Summons information package and follow the submission options for email, post or delivery in person.
Deferral Granted - reminders
If your application for deferral is granted, and if you provide your mobile and or email address then you will be sent a courtesy reminder message six weeks prior to the nominated deferral date.
When your new deferred summons is issued approximately four or five weeks prior to your jury attendance date, a notification message will be sent containing your new deferred jury summons number used to log into the Jury WA Portal.
