Section 9 - Excusing of Juror, Postponement or Reduction of Service(1) Upon the request of a prospective juror prior to the juror's assignment to a trial court, the chief circuit judge, or after the juror's assignment to a trial court, the trial judge may excuse such juror upon a showing of undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, or public necessity. On the day on which the prospective jurors are summoned to appear, any person not previously excused who desires to be excused shall be heard in a bench conference if he or she so desires. Other persons may be heard in open court or in a bench conference at the discretion of the court.(2) In his or her discretion the chief circuit judge or a judge designated by the chief circuit judge may excuse a juror from service entirely, reduce the number of days of service, or postpone the juror's service temporarily for a period not to exceed 24 months. Whenever possible the judge shall favor temporary postponement of service or reduced service over permanent excuse. When excusing a juror, the judge shall record the juror's name, as provided in Section 8 of these Rules, and the reason(s) for granting the excuse.(3) The chief circuit judge may designate and authorize one or more judges of the court, the court's clerk, a deputy clerk, the court's administrator, a deputy court administrator or the chief judge's secretary to excuse a juror from service for a period not to exceed 10 days or to postpone jury service for a period not to exceed 12 months. The reasons for excuse or postponement shall be entered in the space provided on the juror qualification form, signed, and the juror's status shall be updated by the county in the Jury Management Program.(4) The judge shall excuse a mother who is breastfeeding a child or expressing breast milk from jury service until such time as the child is old enough that the mother is no longer breastfeeding the child pursuant to KRS 29A.100(4). The reason for excuse, an anticipated date of availability, and the juror's status shall be updated by the county in the Jury Management Program.(5) Names of prospective jurors who have been postponed will be placed on the next panel approved by the Jury Management Program once the prospective juror becomes available for service, which may or may not be the same panel for which the juror was originally summoned.(6) All the prospective jurors who qualify and are not excused shall be called to report each day by the identifying numbers assigned on the randomized jury list instead of by name. The same numbers shall be used in selecting a grand jury or petit jury from a jury panel under the provision of Section 10 of these Rules.(7) When possible, trials shall be scheduled for the day on which jurors are summoned to appear, in order to maximize their day of service.(8) Except for those who are excused from service pursuant to this section, persons who appear in response to a summons for jury duty shall be compensated in accordance with KRS 29A.170.Ky. Admin. P. Ct. Justice. 9
Amended by Order 2020-73, eff. 12/2/2020; amended by Order 2017-04, eff. 10/1/2017; adopted by Order 91-2, eff. 11/15/1991.