Newsom on Monday signed Assembly Bill 1359, which allows older residents to request a lifelong exemption from jury service simply by certifying that they have a disability preventing them from serving. No additional medical paperwork will be required. Seniors who still want to serve on juries will retain the option to do so.

The bill’s author, Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens, D-Cupertino, said he was inspired to introduce the legislation after a constituent, former Santa Clara County Supervisor Dianne McKenna, described the trouble she went through helping her elderly husband secure a jury duty exemption.

“Senior jurors are excellent jurists who can and will continue to serve if they are willing and able,” Ahrens said in a written statement. “But if they aren’t able to, they will no longer have to navigate a maze of paperwork just to opt out permanently.”

Unlike some other states, California has not had a blanket minimum age for jury duty exemptions. Florida sets that threshold at 70, while Texas sets it at 75.

Under California’s previous rules, residents 70 and older could seek a medical exemption without a doctor’s certification, but they still had to notify their local jury office in writing each time they were summoned, explaining why they were unable to serve. That meant the exemption applied only once — forcing seniors to repeat the process every time their name came up again for jury selection.

Supporters of the new law argue that having to repeatedly request an exemption places an unnecessary burden on older adults, particularly those dealing with mobility issues, chronic illness or limited access to computers and the internet. According to a 2025 report from the Public Policy Institute of California, roughly one-third of adults over 80 struggle to remain at home without assistance, and about one in five faces limitations with basic self-care.

Advocates say the change could be especially helpful for people living with Alzheimer’s disease who lack a caregiver to assist them with the exemption process. Andrew Mendoza, director of state government affairs for the Alzheimer’s Association, testified in support of the bill during a legislative hearing in June.

“This bill can help vulnerable populations avoid what would otherwise be a stressful process of gathering documents and explaining their disability status during a time of significant personal change,” Mendoza said.

Original source: CalMatters

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