Jury Duty

[Lumpy1106]

Here in LA County it's 1 day, or 1 trial, and I get called once every 2 years like clockwork. A lot of times you just have to call in every night, but the last 2 times I had to actually go to the courthouse. Both times my butt never left the seat in the jury assembly room. Just by the stereotypes, there is not a defense attorney that would want me on his panel. In reality, I fit the stereotype pretty well.

IMHO, It takes SOOO much effort for the prosecution to get the case heard that I find it nearly impossible that you would somehow end up as a defendant accidentally. Add to that, the LA County DA doesn't try almost any cases. If you've made it that far to be in front of an actual jury, after all that, well...

TO OP - demand the deferral, or just don't show up. What's the worst that will happen? You won't lose a job over it, right? That's the worst that will happen if you don't show up for your job.

 

[snowwite]

I just got my notice. I have to call weekly for two months. It has come at the worst time. I'm going to beg the Clerk to defer me to the next period with documentation of why. I know I only have a 50/50 chance she will agree.

My little black cloud won't go away. What have your experiences been?

Is this for Grand Jury? I’ve only ever had to serve more than one day in a row when I was seated. But a friend was snagged for Grand jury and wound up serving for months. No excuses were entertained

 

[snowwite]

This sounds like it might be for Federal Grand Jury?

That’s what I was thinking too.

 

[snowwite]

For those who were screened, but dismissed for whatever reason - were you done after that and didn't have to call or show up again during that time period?

Correct. You showed up and were willing to serve. Even though you are dismissed it counts. I’ve been called 6 times. I’m 59 and the first time I was 19 and the most recent was 2020.

 

[JulieBeeRN]

There was a guy who tried getting out of jury duty bc he said that he had to crunch hard candy to keep his blood sugar up and that would probably be disruptive so he should just go on home.

 

[3rd_time_the_charm]

Not a grand jury - just local yokel circuit court. It could have been up to FOUR months of weekly calls, so guess I should be happy with two!

 

[JulieBeeRN]

Four months of weekly calls! Yikes!

 

[tvguy]

There was a guy who tried getting out of jury duty bc he said that he had to crunch hard candy to keep his blood sugar up and that would probably be disruptive so he should just go on home.

I think the Judges around here would tell him to get some glucose tablets that silently dissolve in his mouth!

 

[EACarlson]

I blame you all for this. I got called to jury duty beginning in four weeks. I have to call in or go online the day before and see if I have to report, I have to be available for the entire week or until the trial is completed. Then I can't be called again for four years. Thankfully my employer will still give me full pay while I'm out as the county is going to give me about an hours worth of pay per day.

 

[3rd_time_the_charm]

I blame you all for this. I got called to jury duty beginning in four weeks. I have to call in or go online the day before and see if I have to report, I have to be available for the entire week or until the trial is completed. Then I can't be called again for four years. Thankfully my employer will still give me full pay while I'm out as the county is going to give me about an hours worth of pay per day.

What in the world? They delayed me to May with no issue. I have no issue serving, just wanted to request it past my training. I'm not entitled, it was just a request. 2 months is a long time to have to call weekly. But sure, blame me.

 

[mom2rtk]

What in the world? They delayed me to May with no issue. I have no issue serving, just wanted to request it past my training. I'm not entitled, it was just a request. 2 months is a long time to have to call weekly. But sure, blame me.

I'm pretty sure the poster was joking.

 

[Kitty 34]

I'm pretty sure the poster was joking.

I was just getting ready to post the same thing. I would relax about being blamed.

 

[3rd_time_the_charm]

Not to be obtuse, but I don't get the joke other than pay. But ok lol.

 

[Allison]

Of course it was a joke. That's obvious. Why would they really blame all of us for getting called to jury duty.

 

[EACarlson]

The joke is that I only got called because we were talking about it here. Much along the same lines of jinxing something by talking about it.

 

[3rd_time_the_charm]

The joke is that I only got called because we were talking about it here. Much along the same lines of jinxing something by talking about it.

Gotcha! Lol I'm so used to the not joking responses that I jumped to the totally wrong conclusion. My apologies. And to a PP, obviously it wasn't obvious to everyone.

 

[DCLMP]

I've never reported to jury duty and never will. My employer doesn't pay me to go so unless the courts want to match my salary. I'm not going.

 

[Miffy]

I don't know what it's like in the state or municipality that anyone else lives in, but in NYC if you disregard your jury summons and don't show up for jury duty, you are going to get arrested.

The boss of a friend had this happen to him. He thought he was too much of a big shot to have to do jury duty. The court system disagreed. They came to his office and arrested him.

My experience with getting called for jury duty is that once you're in the jury pool if you have a legit excuse for not being able to serve, they will dismiss you.

The last jury I was called for I had to pretty much present my case (as though I were on trial) in order to get off, explaining in great detail why I couldn't serve. They finally had to relent and let me off--very reluctantly. They wanted me on that jury, but I'm a freelancer and I'd already lost a week's work just reporting to jury duty. I couldn't lose another week's work and they understood.

 

[EACarlson]

I've never reported to jury duty and never will. My employer doesn't pay me to go so unless the courts want to match my salary. I'm not going.

That's a $500 fine in my state along with the option for the judge to find you in contempt and throw you in jail until you do serve.

 

[_19disnA]

I don't know what it's like in the state or municipality that anyone else lives in, but in NYC if you disregard your jury summons and don't show up for jury duty, you are going to get arrested.

I agree. Don't live in NY but would assume most states have laws about that. Someone earlier in this thread said to just ignore the letter about jury duty (not sure if another of those just joking or not), but that is a TERRIBLE suggestion to offer people who haven't been called. There can be consequences for simply ignoring the jury duty letter. CALL if the dates don't work for you and they will likely help make other arrangements.