Is it perjury to lie during jury selection?

Lying on a Juror Questionnaire You might think, or others might suggest, that lying on your questionnaire might help you get out of jury duty. Making false statements in a jury questionnaire actually can be the basis for a charge of perjury, a felony crime.

What happens if you lie as a juror?

Jurors who lie to get on a jury can be charged with such offenses as contempt of court and obstruction of justice. Background checks are increasingly being used to catch jurors who lie about their criminal records.

Can a court excuse you from jury duty?

Courts can and will excuse citizens from jury duty in certain circumstances. Laws regarding jury services sometimes provide grounds for excusal or deferral, and judges have the discretion to excuse potential jurors or defer their service on a case-by-case basis. The exact requirements vary by state and by court, but grounds for excusal can include:

What happens if you lie to get out of jury duty?

While some people consider jury duty annoying (in truth, it can even be a hardship), lying to get out of it is never a good idea and can result in criminal charges against you. You can be summoned for jury duty by a local, state, or federal court. Courts usually send a summons to appear for jury duty by mail.

Why is perjury a criminal offense?

By committing perjury, people partake in the miscarriage of justice and corrupt the legal process. As a result, perjury is considered a very serious criminal offense, even though most people who lie under oath do not consider it to be very serious. When people commit perjury, they disrupt the legitimate discovery of truth.

Can I be permanently removed from jury duty?

While it is generally difficult to be permanently removed from your county’s jury pool, it is much easier to have your jury duty postponed. Some citizens don’t want to neglect their obligations, but the timing is just bad for them. If this is the case, most courts are willing to work with people who are honest about their situation.