How to get excused from jury duty in Whatcom County, Washington
The excusal routes Whatcom County, Washington actually recognizes — what each one needs, who decides, and where it goes.
Whatcom has no separately named financial-hardship category on public-facing pages — it's a general written-hardship-letter jurisdiction under the standard Washington catch-all standard, same as Yakima.
Your routes in Whatcom County, Washington
Age 80 or olderIncluded — 80 or over, and the court must grant it
A statutory right, not a favor. You attest that you are 80 or over and unable to serve for health reasons, and the court must grant it. It is forbidden to require a doctor’s note.
RCW 2.36.100(2) — Excuse from service, Reasons (2023 c 205 s 1). “A person who is 80 years of age or older may request to be excused from jury service if the person attests that the person is unable to serve due to health reasons. An attestation form must be developed by the court and may not include a requirement that a doctor’s note be provided. This request must be granted by the court.”
Must be granted. Not weighed, not considered — granted. This is the only ground in this county’s listing where the court has no discretion, and it is why the entry is free.
And the court may not ask you for a doctor’s note. That is a prohibition on the court, not a courtesy to you. If the office asks anyway, quote the sentence.
From 1 January 2027, 2025 c 379 s 7 adds: “A person who is breastfeeding or expressing breast milk for an infant under 24 months old may request to delay or be excused from jury service if the person attests that the person is unable to serve for this reason.” Same attestation, same ban on requiring a doctor’s note, same must be granted — and it covers a delay as well as an excusal.
See the full detail →Must be granted. Not weighed, not considered — granted. This is the only ground in this county’s listing where the court has no discretion, and it is why the entry is free.
And the court may not ask you for a doctor’s note. That is a prohibition on the court, not a courtesy to you. If the office asks anyway, quote the sentence.
From 1 January 2027, 2025 c 379 s 7 adds: “A person who is breastfeeding or expressing breast milk for an infant under 24 months old may request to delay or be excused from jury service if the person attests that the person is unable to serve for this reason.” Same attestation, same ban on requiring a doctor’s note, same must be granted — and it covers a delay as well as an excusal.
Financial hardshipModerate — general catch-all, no named category
Local Rule WCGR 28 authorizes excusal 'upon showing of undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity, or reason deemed sufficient' — no dedicated financial-hardship checkbox, but a valid written request.
Whatcom Local Rule WCGR 28. Authorizes the jury coordinator/judicial assistants to excuse jurors 'upon showing of undue hardship, extreme inconvenience, public necessity, or reason deemed sufficient' — the same general Washington catch-all standard as Yakima.
See the full detail →Medical conditionHigh, with documentation
Also falls under the same general catch-all standard, with documentation.
Whatcom Local Rule WCGR 28. Recognizes documented medical conditions as an excusal ground under the same general catch-all standard.
See the full detail →Contact the court
Whatcom County Jury CoordinatorJury line: (360) 778-5401
Other counties
JuryFree prepares documents and guidance from the facts you provide. It is not a law firm and does not give legal advice or guarantee any outcome. Court rules and deadlines vary by county and change over time — confirm with the court before you rely on anything here. Questions: [email protected].