Jury Duty

BoelterHall
Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:19:05 +0000

Read this:



In California, there is a loophole you can take advantage of to get out of serving on a trial if you aren’t able to get out of being called for jury service. This is significant, as trials in CA often last 10 - 20 days. In the voir-dire (evaluation of potential candidates for a jury on a specific trial), the judge will ask if anyone has any significant reason not to serve on a trial (which can last for weeks in CA). Most excuses will not be accepted, but some, such as medical excuses, will get you dismissed.

One tack to try: Explain to the judge that you have a pressing, pressing commitment in the next week or two, and that you would be happy to re-schedule your jury service two weeks hence because of this very pressing work or personal commitment. Most judges will agree to let you come back and repeat jury service in two weeks, even if your commitment doesn’t rise to the level needed for him to just let you go scott free. However (and here’s the catch), by state law you will have served you jury service already by showing up for a day and not being selected for trial. When you return to the jury room, instead of getting your jury service rescheduled they will hand you piece of paper certifying you have completed it. Voila!





I didn’t go, nothing happened.

Really? Did you pay your jail bail already? :rolleyes: