agree to disagree? gray areas everywhere

[lonegirl]

I originally wrote this to see if I could get advice for my 1 year old to avoid missing therapy as I served (seeing how it could be days/weeks). Not a childcare issue. Not a SAHM vs. the world issue. Not my child is more special than yours issue. It has turned mean. I'm not going to get you to agree with me, and you are entitled to your ways of doing things. Thanks for chiming in. Let's move on.

 

[SDSorority]

I received jury duty notice, and sent in my regular excuse--non-employed, caring for 3 small children. I was told by the clerk that this is not an excuse in federal court. I am awaiting response to a letter I sent to court, explaining that my baby is receiving services for developmental delays and a parent (not a babysitter) must be present for the instructors to come to our home.

If I go, DH will have to take the day off of work (we're living on one income), and if I get chosen to serve, it will cost me a lot for childcare! Anyone ever experience this, and any advice?

Please note: I do believe in jury duty and will gladly serve--when my youngest is in school full time!

That stinks

DH was just called for jury duty, too.

 

[Avonlady1001]

When I got called to jury duty last year, I had to send a copy of both my kid's birth certificiates & state that I had no one to watch them since I was a SAHM & my DH would have to take time off for it. I was excused...this was not federal, however, it was New York State. I'm surprised they won't take that as an excuse for you. It's valid, in my opinion...I am looking forward to jury duty some day, but like you said, when the kids are in school.

DH recently got called also...it was all posted online, so every night we checked the numbers & he never actually had to go but he's now off the hook for the next 6 years. If they do make you do it, hopefully it'll go the same for you!

 

[monorailsilver]

That stinks.

I would just show up with my kids in tow since I am the babysitter, aka mom, for my kids if they told me I had to go.

I would not have my dh take the day off of work for me to go since he works FT & can work OT so we'd lose that OT income if he had to take the day off.

I would be calling every day, every hour until I got some answers.

 

[angierae]

That stinks.

I would just show up with my kids in tow since I am the babysitter, aka mom, for my kids if they told me I had to go.

I vaguely remember a judge being VERY upset with a woman for doing that once, and charging her with contempt. I wouldn't suggest it.

 

[maggiew]

I seem to remember a story about a breastfeeding mother who was not excused from jury duty. Unfortunately she was also a lawyer at home on maternity leave, or something like that.

There was big hoopla about it and she eventually got off. The court said it had made a "clerical error" or something. Ha ha ha.

Try and find the story because I think there was some law that she referred to in her fight.

Maggie

 

[pixiewings71]

Please do not take your children to jury duty with you, you can be charged with contempt. Just continue to contact the courts and see if you can get thru, good luck. In the event you do go do you have friends or family that can help with childcare?

 

[brymolmom]

Definitely stinks. I've never been called for Federal but have had to prove twice now that I am primary caregiver to my kids 2 days a week (I work P/T so it makes it even more complicated - had to get documentation from my workplace).

Honestly, I WANT to do it - I love seeing how the system works and have been on one jury in the past, but they need to make it easier for parents of small children to do so. Personally I think childcare should be offered on-site where you are. Not everyone would choose to use it, but I would at least be more in agreement with them 'forcing' it if that is the case. Some people truly DON'T have alternatives, WHAT are they supposed to do??

 

[TiggerStac]

in MA that does not excuse you. My hubby had to take off work when I was called, thankfully I didn't have to serve as they were anticipating a week long case.

I'm a SAHM of 3 young children, 1, 3, 8.

 

[Swimalie]

I would get a letter from the person or agency providing the services to your child stating you need to be at home when your child gets the services. Send that in with a letter explaining. Federal jury duty is harder to get excused from. My mother in law was a care taker to her mom and her grandkids and had to get a letter from her mom's doctor stating she could not leave her mom at home alone and medicare would not provide anyone. This helped get her out of it the first time but, be warned, she was called a 2nd time and all it did was help push her back to the end of the line in being called. Federal judges don't take excuses as well as local judges. My mother in law had an easier out once she got there, though. Her son was a police officer and her daughter in law was a probation officer (me).

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

In CT a SAHM is not excused. Do not show up to court with your kids they can & possibly will charge you with contempt.

 

[angwill]

Been there done that. Our local court told me to find a babysitter or family to watch him. I had a child with delays as well and my DH travels for work and is very rarely home. His staying home for that one day would have cost us a weeks salary.

I explained my situation and that family does not live anywhere near me and I was new to the area and didn't know anyone. I was told to call daycare centers. Like they take kids for one day only. They said unless I had a medical excuse with a doctors note I would be expected in court that morning. Even with a doctors note you only get out of it for a few months and then they call you back.

I did try to find a sitter but ended up taking him with me and I still had to sit through the initial phase and then was sent home after threatening me and they told me I would be put back in the pool of names and I better find a sitter the next time.

Good luck.

PS. I got called back a year later and yearly for a few years and DH had to stay home and we missed out on a whole weeks pay each time.

 

[Poohbear5]

In NH, about 18 years ago, I was called. I sent in a form, but did not receive a reply. The date arrived, I showed up at the court with twin infants, and 2 toddlers in tow (watched my neighbors toddler fulltime) and was excused promptly!

At the time, with 3 kids in diapers and on formula and a new mortgage, there was NO way we could have afforded for hubby to take time off.

 

[Lovin' Disney]

I have an interesting story regarding this. I work part time at night, but care for the kids during the day. About a year ago in summer, I was called for jury duty for a case that would last about 2 weeks. There way no way my DH could take off of work for 2 weeks, and I didn't have enough help around for babysitting.

Well, I showed up at the courthouse and there were literally about 100 other people there. I thought no problem. Then on about the 12th choice for jurors, they called my name. I went up to the jury box and the lawyers and judge got to ask us any questions they wanted. I explained something about not being able to concentrate on the case because I'd be worried about the financial situation at home with my DH having to watch the kids. Even that didn't really fly with the judge as an excuse, so I panicked. Then when one of the lawyers asked if we thought we would could be fair and impartial, I answered no. I said that I thought the prisoner would be guilty, since he was a repeat offender. That lawyer excused me and I went on my way. Was it the right thing to do? Not really. But my family comes number one and like the OP said, I will be happy to serve on a jury when the financial obligations and child care aren't holding me back.

Thinking back, one more option--they read the names of the people who were going to be involved in the trial and those who were related or friends of those people had to be excused. Maybe you will know someone who is involved and can get out it that way.

 

[tlbwriter]

This is so frustrating to me - I'd love to be a juror, and it wouldn't be a hardship for me, but I never get a chance! They should let you find a sub!

 

[DawnM]

Here in NC we have had horror stories of SAHMs having to go to jury duty and being told to FIND someone to watch their children or else!

I have not received any notices, thankfully. DH already said he would just have to work from home those days if he had to, which is NOT convenient for him, but could be done if necessary.

Dawn

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Federal jury is not the same as local/state, here is the exemption rule straight from the US govt site:

Excuses from Jury Service

Many courts offer excuses from service, on individual request, to designated groups of persons or occupational classes. Such groups may include persons over age 70; persons who have, within the past two years, served on a federal jury; and persons who serve as volunteer fire fighters or members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew.

The Jury Act also allows courts to permanently excuse a juror from service at the time he or she is summoned on the grounds of "undue hardship or extreme inconvenience" if the distance to the courthouse makes it difficult for the juror to travel. The juror should write a letter to the clerk of court requesting an excuse with an explanation of hardship.

Excuses for jurors are granted at the discretion of the court and cannot be reviewed or appealed to Congress or any other entity.

Temporary Deferrals

The Jury Act allows courts to grant temporary deferrals of service on the grounds of "undue hardship or extreme inconvenience." The juror summons provides specific information on how to request a deferral from the court summoning the juror.

Temporary deferrals for jurors are granted at the discretion of the court and cannot be reviewed or appealed to Congress or any other entity.

 

[PammyPoppins]

When I was called to Jury Duty about 25 years ago you could be excused if you had children under school age and you were a stay at home Mom. There was a box right there on the form to check if you had young children, Well, things have changed because I have been called twice in the last ten years and our youngest child, who was born years after our older two is disabled and has seizures. There was not even anywhere to list a excuse. I called and finally got through to someone after speaking to atleast 10 people. She excused me but told me I had to fill out the questioner and send it back even though she excused me. She said if they didn't receive it I would not be excused. Things had changed so much in those 25 years. She also did not excuse me until after I described my daughter's illness to her. I asked if she wanted a doctor;s note and she said that would not be necessary that she could excuse me from the details I gave her.
They have really toughened up.
Good Luck,
PammyPoppins

 

[Ava]

I vaguely remember a judge being VERY upset with a woman for doing that once, and charging her with contempt. I wouldn't suggest it.

Really? Here you don't even see a judge unless you actually get picked to go into the courtroom to possibly be on a jury. When you arrive for jury duty, you go into a room and a clerk or some such court employee handles any claims for excusal. My partner was called a few months ago, she sent in a copy of DD's birth certificate as requested but because they had her name incorrect on the original summons some wires got crossed and they didn't process it. She called & was told to just bring in the birth certificate & request an excusal in person. She took DD with her, no one said anything to her about it, and she got excused right away (for the next 5 years).

I served a few years ago but never got called into the jury box. I spent 2 days sitting in the aforementioned room with the random court employee & probably 100 other people, then on the 3rd day I did get called to go into the courtroom but was never called up for questioning. It was sort of interesting but honestly if I'm called again I'll say what I have to to get out of it. My job only pays for the first few days of jury service, and what the state pays is nowhere near what I'd make at work. Civic duty or not, I can't afford to lose pay for possibly a week or more.

 

[angwill]

This is so frustrating to me - I'd love to be a juror, and it wouldn't be a hardship for me, but I never get a chance! They should let you find a sub!

It is funny you said that because I have not been called to jury duty since my DS was little. Now that it wouldn't be much of a harship, not including loss of income, i never get a notice. I think it would be interesting.