I'm so upset..... UPDATED

[talie95]

We are leaving for disneyland on sunday for 4 days. Well, last week my husbad had to go in for jury duty and he got picked to be on the jury!! The trial starts today and they said that they are expecting to turn the case over to the jury on Fri. but of course they can't gaurantee it. And even if the case is done on Fri the jury still has to deliberate and if they don't come to a decision then they will have to go back on Mon. which of course interferes with our plans. I've been in tears for the last 2 days because I'm so afraid that this will ruin everything. I'm still going to DLR whether he does or not because the girls are soo excited and counting down the days. Luckily my sister had planned to be with us on Sun and Mon so I won't be alone those days if my dh isn't there but I'm still just so upset. I work at a restaurant in the evenings when my dh gets home from work and he told the court this when he was being questioned but they said that if I had to be a few minutes late to work it shouldn't be a problem. Luckily my managers are really cool about this but it just makes me furious that they would expect me to change my schedule around for him to serve on the jury. I didn't get called for jury duty so I don't see how it's OK for them to ask that of me. I completely respect the jury system and I know it's probably hard to get jurors since everyone tries to get out of it but we have legitimate reasons....we have the girls to take care of and a vacation we've been planning for 6 months!! Anyway, sorry this was so long, but I just needed to vent! I know we'll have a good time regardless of what happens since it's all about the kids anyway but with my dh and I working opposite shifts we don't get a lot of time all together so we were just really looking forward to a few fun days as a family. Well, thanks for listening.

Update: They started deliberating yesterday afternoon (thursday) and went back this morning to finish up. I guess there are 3 charges and they are unanimous on 2 of them but have to go back to finish the 3rd charge. So, DLR.... here we come!! 2 days till we leave!

 

[tinkermell]

Did he explain that you have had this vacation planned for a long time? Do you have hotel ressies and all of that?
I can't believe they didn't excuse him. This has happen to us too, and we have just explained the problem......but then they pin you down on when you can serve.
Good luck and I hope things do work out in the end.

 

[talie95]

Well, I asked my dh if he told them about the vacation and he said he mentioned it but he's not sure if they heard him since they were talking about the work situation as well and they didn't ask him anything about the vacation. Of course this made me mad at my dh too for not making more of an issue out of this! We do have hotel ressies and I can show the confirmation letter I have for those but the trial is already starting this morning so I guess it's too late anyway. Luckily we only live about an hour away from DL (without traffic) so if he has to go back on Mon he can just drive down afterwards (assuming they are even done on mon.) and at least we'll still have tues and wed together.

 

[pixiewings71]

He can also go with you guys over the weekend and drive home Sunday evening right? I'm sorry, I hope it's over and he's able to go with you guys.

 

[wendypooh22]

Oh, I feel for you... Too bad that he couldn't have postponed his jury service for a better time (If there is a "better" time for Jury service )... Although your plans got kinda screwy, I hope you have a wonderful time...

 

[ter-moo]

Since you live in CA, and you'll probably get a jury summons every year, you need to know that if you have a vacation scheduled, you can request a different date when you receive the summons. They'll automatically put you down for 6 mos. later unless you specify something different.

This should NEVER have happened in the first place! I'm sorry you're having to deal with it!

 

[talie95]

Yes, he could go with us on Sun. and then drive home and come back monday if he needed. The funny thing is he was actually supposed to have jury duty the week before but he forgot to call in one night (you know how you have to call every night to see if you have to report the next morning) and of course that was the day he had to go so they rescheduled it for the following week (which would be last week) and of course he didn't get called to go in until Friday so of course it spilled over into this week and hence, our dilemma. Since he already postponed it once they won't let him postpone again. Well, I'm starting to feel a little better about it all. I know we'll have fun no matter what and hopefully he'll be there for part of the trip. He told me today that the prosecution said they'll be done on thur. and the defense probably isn't even putting up a case so hopefully they'll get everything done by Fri. I'm just keeping my fingers and toes crossed!

 

[DLVixen]

Right before our last trip in August my DH got summoned for Jury Duty, so I simply called the automated number and requested a postponment. You are allowed one if it is less than six months from the notice date, so I picked november because it's inbetween our scheduled oct & dec trips

Is it too late to request one for you? I hope your dh's duty is over in time for you guys to have a wonderful disneyland trip

 

[DLVixen]

How funny, we posted at the same time and you answered my question

 

[talie95]

Since you live in CA, and you'll probably get a jury summons every year, you need to know that if you have a vacation scheduled, you can request a different date when you receive the summons. They'll automatically put you down for 6 mos. later unless you specify something different.

Since his original summons was for 3 weeks ago we didn't really think it would interfere but it just seems that it was not in the stars! The gods are not looking down on us favorably at the moment!

Thanks for all the support! You guys are the best.....and throw a little pixie dust my way!!

 

[pixiewings71]

No worries, it sounds like it will be over quickly anyway. My DBF was on a jury that was short like that, they said it would be from M-F and it was over by Wed. I'll keep my fingers crossed that that is the case for you guys!

 

[Casey's Mommie]

He should tell the judge he doesn't really care if the guy is guilty or not because he is going to DL next week!!!!

But seriously, sorry this happened to you. I bet it will be over by friday. I'll cross my fingers for you!!!!!

 

[Amy&Dan]

I really hope it works out and I am so sorry this happened to you guys! May the wheels of justice turn very quickly so he can be done with his duty ASAP!! Good luck.

 

[talie95]

He should tell the judge he doesn't really care if the guy is guilty or not because he is going to DL next week!!!!

But seriously, sorry this happened to you. I bet it will be over by friday. I'll cross my fingers for you!!!!!

When he first got called everyone was giving me advice on what he should say to get out of it. Things like "I think most people who come to trial are guilty anyway" and other things of the sort. But my DH being the guy he is, is too honest to lie about his positions so of course he got picked....if I had only married a better liar!!

 

[AuntieM03]

I got my jury summons for a week before we are going to WDW. I could only postpone a max of 3 mos, which would be Febuary. I decided to do it Christmas week, hoping nobody in the courts will want to be working

 

[MagicalMomAZ]

Ohhhh I am so sorry.

My DH happened to know the guy on trial & told the judge he was a liar & wouldn't beleive a thing he said - they let him go.

I hope it's an open & shut case that is over quick - I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!!!!!

 

[PrincessSitka]

I was picked for a trail once. We stayed all day then the guy said he did it. And that was the end of us staying there. Maybe that will happen to you.

 

[flyinshirer]

Here's some pixie dust to help you

 

[flyinshirer]

Don't forget to let us know how it turns out!

 

[heatherfeather24]

Not helpful to the OP at this point, but for the rest of y'all:

I worked for a judge for 3 years. As long as a prospective juror honestly explained that they had vacation plans including reservations, etc., the judge always either excused them immediately or promised that an alternate could take their place in the event that the trial ran long enough to jeopardize vacation plans.

I can't speak for every court, but at least the judge I worked for understood that people had outside lives.