<p>I have never been called for jury duty. Not for federal, state, local - never. I’m 46 years old, have a drivers license and have been a registered voter since I was 18.</p>
<p>Now that I posted that, I’ll get a notice tomorrow!</p>
<p>It was kind of funny - the last time I was called I was just hanging around in the ‘juror lounge’ back by the desk. Even after it was explained to the crowd of 200 or so people what’s ‘excusable’ and what isn’t, several people still went up to the desk to try to get out of it. One gentleman had an absolutely baffled look in his face and he clearly didn’t understand that he couldn’t get out of duty simply because he had a job. The clerk was patiently (and nicely) explaining this to him from several different angles but the guy clearly just didn’t quite get it. He wondered what he would do with his classes - he was a college professor.</p>
<p>My daughter got a jury summons today–she’s still in China and they only allow 90 days postponement, which would be in the middle of her semester. Any ideas what the heck we do, besides telling the court she actually lives in LA?</p>
<p>Not that I am recommendiing this, but I have a friend who has figured out how to never serve on a jury. Whenever he is called for jury duty, in response to an interview question from the lawyers trying the case, he usually says something like: “Well, he (the defendant) must have done something wrong or he wouldn’t have been arrested.” Works like a charm every time.</p>
<p>California has made it so easy to serve–it’s gotten a whole lot of people out of the habit of trying to dodge service. For example, you can come down to the courthouse within 2 weeks before or after your actual report date. You can postpone service into the future twice without having to have had a good reason. If you report to the court and aren’t called on a jury that day, you are free from having to do jury duty for a full year. </p>
<p>I needed to take advantage of all of the above this past year. Sure beats the call in every day for 5 days routine that we had before.</p>
<p>I’m on call for the next two months. This happens every two years, for both H and I. H has been chosen several times over the last ten years. Several years ago I was called for the trial of a woman who was accused–along with her adult daughter–of cutting the husband up into little pieces and feeding him to the pigs! The jury was going to be sequestered for a couple of weeks, so I argued that I was home-schooling one of my kids and it would be disruptive. I was excused, thank heavens. Another prospective juror tried arguing that she “really didn’t like looking at gruesome pictures” so she didn’t think she should be chosen; the judge leaned over and explained that he didn’t really want anyone on the jury that DID like looking at gruesome pictures.</p>
<p>P.S. Both the wife and daughter were acquitted. I guess the gruesome pictures were unpersuasive.</p>
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<p>If it weren’t a convenient time, then I’d probably move out of state but if I did have to come in, then I’d bring a long my copy of Until Proven Innocent and then basically state that I assume that the judge, police and prosecutor were guilty of trying to railroad someone unless they could prove otherwise.</p>
<p>The homeschooling angle is a good one.</p>
<p>^^^It was true, at the time. No more excuses at this point. I don’t mind serving, but I’d prefer not to be sequestered.</p>
<p>kathyc:</p>
<p>You’re in Northern Cal? It’s strange that the postponement would be that different than around here although it varies by court. Is it county superior court? I’m sure if you call the court they’ll tell you what her options are. They might postpone her to winter break or something - just what your D would look forward to.</p>
<p>^^^ It’s for Countra Costa County Superior Court, which is different I guess than LMNOP’s court. I’ve had two experiences with this particular court, and some of the judges are real sticklers (one judge gave me a lecture because I said that I couldn’t be objective when the case was about numerous rapes/attempted murder when I had a teenage daughter). Winter break wouldn’t be great but it that’s the only option, I guess that’ll have to do. There really aren’t any good times for her. Am I being too much of a helicopter parent if I call instead of her?</p>
<p>I’m sorry because I know this sounds pompous. But I believe that if our soldiers can be out in the heat and sand of Iraq or Afghanistan, I can certainly spend a few days helping our justice system work. Jury duty is just that - a citizen’s duty.</p>
<p>(Obviously, the system should provide for mercy by canceling or rescheduling for first days of kindergarten, and students out of state, etc. edit: or out of country! China has got to be an automatic reschedule !)</p>
<p>I have served on a criminal trial (convicted the accused of 2nd degree murder), interviewed for tort cases but was not impaneled, and one grand jury (2 days a week for 6 weeks - wow, that was an experience). Sometimes fascinating, usually dreary and unpleasant, but I see it as part of the price I pay to get to vote in a democracy.</p>
<p>Since your D’s in China and you’re just trying to understand the options I don’t think it’s helicoptering at all.</p>
<p>When my D went to do her jury duty, delayed until her spring break, she said the place was filled with students who deferred until then.</p>
<p>^^^ thanks for the advice/support. I’ll call tomorrow…</p>
<p>Double check because the website seems to indicate you can delay up to 6 months. She might possibly also get off on ‘undue hardship’ due to lack of transportation but they might solve this by making her defer. Check this out -
[Contra</a> Costa Court - Jury Service](<a href=“http://www.cc-courts.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageID=2255#excuses]Contra”>http://www.cc-courts.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageID=2255#excuses)</p>
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<p>Tell it to the guys freed by The Innocence Project who have had their lives ruined by the justice system “working”.</p>
<p>[The prospective juror will bear an extreme financial burden. In determining whether to excuse the prospective juror, consideration shall be given to:]</p>
<p>Does missing finals count here?</p>
<p>That’s interesting that the website says you have 6 months–the written letter says 90 days. I guess the website is more current. Thanks for the link…</p>
<p>And as for whether missing finals constitutes extreme financial hardship, it sounds like it depends on the court, based on some of the earlier posts in this thread.</p>
<p>Look the judge straight in the eye and say something along the lines of “Judge, there is absolutely no possible way that I could ever be impartial or competently consider the facts of the case to come to a well-reasoned conclusion of guilt or innocence when I’m sitting in a courtroom with exams two weeks away hanging over my head, for which I should be spending all night in the library studying.” </p>
<p>That should get you off pretty quick…I mean it’s true, nobody should be reasonably expected to pay attention to the trial when they have finals hanging over their heads, they’d want to get it over with as soon as possible regardless of outcome.</p>
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<p>Exactly. Maybe the one person who would have voted “not guilty” made up some excuse to get out of serving.</p>