I am about to cry....

[agnes!]

You have kids right? Maybe you can find out where the actual reporting office is, corral all the kids into the car, get to the Courthouse, and go into the office with the family (by the way, this would work really well if the youngest is crying at the time) and ask if your jury duty summons could be postponed...


agnes!

 

[Daydreamer64]

Here in Georgia, I was summoned for County last Feb- had a breast feeding infant at the time, was supposed to leave for vacation that same day- ( sound familiar? ) all three of my kids are special needs and I have to stay home to care for them some days I couldn't afford the special help that I need on some days to "sit" for me- anyway, I wrote this all down, gave the doctors information on diagnoses sp? and told them that I had no medically trained daycare available that I could afford, as I was a SAHM and no family that I can trust- the only two people that I have locally besides Dh and MIL - who both hold down full time jobs, are a drunk and a druggie so no way I was leaving my kids with THEM-

I get a notice that I will be allowed to miss "this" time but am expected to return exactly 6 months from that date and true to their word- I got the new summons with a note on it that I was not able to request another deferment- I hate this place- I could have served for the last 7 years at any time before I had another baby ( the boys were in full time school ) but as soon as I have a baby- they insist that I serve my time- I am not part of a jury of peers in this area- :I'm half frightened to drive and get out of the car to go into the courthouse- DH is dropping me off and picking me up The only kind of trials around here are for gangs and I don't want to be involved in any of that

DH has been able to pull stings, as we have the special needs kids, and is going to work from home through a link-up to his work place- so I asked a friend of ours who is in the know- he said that at this court house, some of the judge's that he thought I could get, are fond of having no sympathy and have said, that if you bring your kids to the reviews and you can't take care of finding childcare for your kids, and serve your time, then HE will take care of the kids and call DFACS immediately - yep- they're really nice around here!

I'm going to go into the reviews and say I have already formed an opinion about the people because they look guilty to me! If I get called for another review- it's happened in the past I used to always get called for duty- then I'm going to tell them that I don't believe in our government and judicial system and am an unwilling participate- that ought to be interesting -
I would have loved to serve at any time but now!

 

[tonilea]

Weird. I got out of mine because I had just given birth to twins and wasn't able to drive. I called and explained that I was unavailable because of that. The first person I talked to said I should come anyway (but I couldn't get there!) so I said "Sure" and called back, the next person was able to handle it right away. My mom though, actually went and they saw her last name and said "Why are you here, you're related to ***** ********** right? When she said yes, they said "goodbye" My cousin is very high up in the state police so she got off because of that. I thought that was kind of standard.

IMO, our judge is an idiot.

 

[Doc CW]

I would go to WDW regardless b/c its my vacation and they arent going to stop me from going on it no matter what.

 

[ptmmg]

I can understand postponing due to a planned vaction I did this 4 years ago when I had a cruise planned and was called.

I was just recently called again and the court house is an hour away from my house not convenient!!! Its the middle of the summer, and I have 4 kids at home. Yes I could have used an excuse to get out of it, but I went, still could have used the excuse when they questioned all potential jurors, that I couldn't serve because of my kids. I was chosen. it was a big case that lasted 6 days (over an hour drive back and forth). It was a pain to arrange child care for those days (dh couldnt get it off )but at least I did my civic duty and I am proud I didnt "try to get out of it" like it seems everybody is trying to do!

 

[Mkrop]

I can understand postponing due to a planned vaction I did this 4 years ago when I had a cruise planned and was called.

I was just recently called again and the court house is an hour away from my house not convenient!!! Its the middle of the summer, and I have 4 kids at home. Yes I could have used an excuse to get out of it, but I went, still could have used the excuse when they questioned all potential jurors, that I couldn't serve because of my kids. I was chosen. it was a big case that lasted 6 days (over an hour drive back and forth). It was a pain to arrange child care for those days (dh couldnt get it off )but at least I did my civic duty and I am proud I didnt "try to get out of it" like it seems everybody is trying to do!

If you dont have alternative childcare like you did, I dont think it is fair to criticize using this as an excuse. The two times I got excused I did not have any one else. I dont hire babysitters, I only use my mom and she wont drive in snow or night, plus she wound up with the flu the one week I would have had to gone, and the other time I was going to try and use my friend who wound up having back surgery so I am glad I passed there too.

I would have gladly served any of the years I didnt have kids or I will gladly serve when my kids are older but for now there are plenty of other people in the pot that can take my place and enver seem to get called.

 

[ptmmg]

If you dont have alternative childcare like you did, I dont think it is fair to criticize using this as an excuse. The two times I got excused I did not have any one else. I dont hire babysitters, I only use my mom and she wont drive in snow or night, plus she wound up with the flu the one week I would have had to gone, and the other time I was going to try and use my friend who wound up having back surgery so I am glad I passed there too.

I would have gladly served any of the years I didnt have kids or I will gladly serve when my kids are older but for now there are plenty of other people in the pot that can take my place and enver seem to get called.

I am sure there are plenty of people out there with legitimate child care issues! It was not easy for me to find child care several phone calls and switching of schedules. But realisticaly I think A LOT of people use that as an excuse instead of just maybe putting forth a little effort.

 

[KJF]

Everyone who can get out of it due to childcare issues is lucky - they put a daycare up at our county one & no longer let you out for that excuse. They tell you that's where the kids are going to go. Personally, I would never want to use it - I just can't see my kids or me dealing w/ strangers w/ them for the day, not knowing their routines or me knowing anything about these people. Luckily, I don't think I'll ever have to use it.

I did get out of one though w/ a planned vacation - had to send them a copy of our itinerary w/ our flight info showing we'd be away.

 

[Mkrop]

Everyone who can get out of it due to childcare issues is lucky - they put a daycare up at our county one & no longer let you out for that excuse. They tell you that's where the kids are going to go. Personally, I would never want to use it - I just can't see my kids or me dealing w/ strangers w/ them for the day, not knowing their routines or me knowing anything about these people. Luckily, I don't think I'll ever have to use it.

I did get out of one though w/ a planned vacation - had to send them a copy of our itinerary w/ our flight info showing we'd be away.

No way in heck I would use it. I would never allow strangers to watch my kids. That judge would be getting an earful, I would probably have to tell DH to get bail money ready.

I dont see any problems with people using excuses to get out of it bc I dont see a fair shake in how people get called up. I am 38 have been registered to vote since 18. I have been called once local, once federal. Dh is 43 and has never been called. My mom has been called 3 times twice local, one federal. She only learned to drive when she was 46 and my dad died and when called for the federal one had no exp driving in the city so she had to take a bus and the El (very scary) and wound up having to serve for 10 ten days. She was terrified. I was 8 months pregnant at the time and could not take the time off work to take her. One brother 27 never called, one 24 called local during finals for college so excused. BF also 38 never called. All these people can be called bc they are all registered voters yet why ask arent they?????

 

[Microcell]

Everyone who can get out of it due to childcare issues is lucky - they put a daycare up at our county one & no longer let you out for that excuse. They tell you that's where the kids are going to go. Personally, I would never want to use it - I just can't see my kids or me dealing w/ strangers w/ them for the day, not knowing their routines or me knowing anything about these people. Luckily, I don't think I'll ever have to use it.

I did get out of one though w/ a planned vacation - had to send them a copy of our itinerary w/ our flight info showing we'd be away.

Geez, that stinks! I work so hard to keep my kids out of daycare! I would be so ticked if I got chosen for a capital murder trial or something. Three or six months of daycare is too much for me!

Interestingly, I got a summons the other day for my county, and I wondered if they would take the fact that I have a Kindergartener that would come home to nobody at noon. I would be so interested in serving, it kind of stinks that I had to pull out the childcare card the first time I have ever been summoned. I sort of hope they call me next year. I would really find it all fascinating!

 

[Mkrop]

Geez, that stinks! I work so hard to keep my kids out of daycare! I would be so ticked if I got chosen for a capital murder trial or something. Three or six months of daycare is too much for me!

Interestingly, I got a summons the other day for my county, and I wondered if they would take the fact that I have a Kindergartener that would come home to nobody at noon. I would be so interested in serving, it kind of stinks that I had to pull out the childcare card the first time I have ever been summoned. I sort of hope they call me next year. I would really find it all fascinating!

I stated both that I had a baby and Kindergartner that needed care after 1/2 day school. I think you would be excused.

I agree about daycare, I am a SAHM and my family sacrifices a lot so I can stay home and not use daycare, nothing against those that do, to me it is a personal choice, and even those who use daycare regularly research it extensively to find the right one for their family, I think it is wrong to ask anyone to put their children with strangers.