[Gary Dunaier]

In New York State:

There are no automatic exemptions or excuses from jury service in New York State. Everyone who is eligible must serve. You are eligible to serve as a juror in New York State if you are:
1) a United States citizen,
2) at least 18 years old, and
3) a resident of the county to which you are summoned to serve.

In addition, jurors must

4) be able to understand and communicate in the English
language, and
5) not have been convicted of a felony

In addition,

You can postpone your service once by calling 800-449-2819 at least one week before your date of service. Have your juror index number (from your summons) with you when you call. Pick a date between 2 and 6 months from the date on your summons and you will be assigned the available date closest to your choice. Any future postponement request or request for excusal from jury service must be made by calling your local commissioner of jurors office.

If you cannot serve even if granted a postponement, you may contact your local commissioner of jurors office and ask to be excused from service. The commissioner may ask you to provide documentary proof of the reasons why you need to be excused.

Also:

Must employers allow employees to serve?
Yes. An employer must allow employees time off from work to serve as jurors. An employer who discharges or penalizes an employee for serving as a juror may be prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General and subjected to criminal penalties.

May an employer change an employee’s regularly scheduled hours of work when the employee is scheduled to serve as a juror?
Schedule changes that are designed to accommodate the employee’s obligation to serve are permitted. Schedule changes that penalize an employee may result in prosecution by the Office of the Attorney General and criminal penalties.

May an employer require an employee to take vacation or other paid leave while serving?
No. It is an illegal penalty to force an employee to charge jury duty absence against vacation, personal or sick time. However, an employee may choose paid leave over losing wages. An employer who penalizes an employee for service as a juror by forcing the juror to use paid leave may be prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General and subjected to criminal penalties.

May an employer require an employee who serves as a juror to make up time?
No. An employer who forces an employee to work on days when the employee is not normally scheduled to work in order to make up for time lost as a result of jury service may be prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General and subjected to criminal penalties.

Sources:

NYS Unified Court System website

NYS Unified Court System booklet, "Jury Information for Employers and Employees"