Are you disqualified from being a Juror?

Jurors may be automatically disqualified from service if they meet specific disqualification criteria in the Jury Act. When responding to a summons, if you select “disqualified” you are automatically disqualified, you will not receive a response from sheriffs and you do not need to attend jury selection. The list of potential reasons for disqualification are found in Section 3 of the Jury Act or on the back of the summons.

Examples of some (but not all) disqualification criteria include:

• Non-residents of British Columbia
• Individuals who are not Canadian citizens
• Those under the age of 19
• Police officers, lawyers or employees of certain government agencies
• Those currently charged with an offence under the Criminal Code or the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada)
• A person convicted under the Criminal Code or the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (Canada) unless a pardon was granted or issued, or a record suspension was ordered, under the Criminal Records Act (Canada) and the pardon or record suspension, as the case may be, has not been revoked or ceased to have effect.

If you receive a jury summons and are disqualified, respond either:

• Online: Using the Court Services eResponse website. You will need to have your jury summons on hand to complete your online response. 
• By mail: Complete the jury certification form attached to your jury summons and mail it using the envelope provided.