Jury Duty is not family-friendly!

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

That is not always as cut and dry as you make it sound. You can give me notice but that doesn't mean I am going to be able to find childcare. I also get that we have a civic duty but why should it cost me a fortune in childcare to be a juror? What if I simply do not have the money? Childcare for four children is not cheap. I think there needs to be a better system. I personally don't have an idea as to what but currently it is not the best set up. YMMV.

It's a civil duty & while I feel for your position it's part of being an American & part of the Democratic system.
It's only every 3 years & that's if your name comes up....

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Yes, jury duty is a pain, especially for those with young children. But much like taxes, it is a necessary annoyance of living in a civil society. Of course, we could just go back to the days when women were not considered citizens in their own right and therefore weren't required to sit on juries. That made taking care of the kids much easier.

Mind you, as someone who never has (and likely never will) be called, I'd love to take the OP's place.

 

[PattnFmly]

Well, I don't have any solutions either, but I am glad that DH finished tonight! They returned their verdict late, but since everyone was still at the court they completed the case so he's done! Tomorrow morning will be back to normal! Woo Hoo! Maybe a daycare center at the courthouse for those with little children, or a stipend to help pay for after-school care for those with school age children. To make it manageable but not devastating for anyone's budget.

And just FWIW, I've been called for jury duty 8 times in my life so far (none Federal). Had to do a real case only once, all the others I was either excused by one of the lawyers or just did the 1 trial / 1 day thing here in MA. DH has only gone 3 times! Not exactly fair. Ah well.

 

[RadioNate]

That is why you are given time prior to appearing at the courthouse so you can make arrangements for childcare.

Do you really think it is that easy?

Sure my DH has a flexible enough job that he could take a vacation day but not everyone does. My DH would lose the day from his 2 weeks of paid vacation. However, my neighbor's husband, if he doesn't work, he doesn't get paid. Sure he could also take the day off but he'd lose that income. That is a family, who in this economy, is really hurting right now.

Should my family really be expected to drive more than 2 hours to watch my kids?

Do you have any idea what 10 hours of babysitting for 2 kids costs? I'd be looking at $100 for the day. How much does jury duty pay?

One day, ok. But sitting on a jury for weeks? Months? What do I do then? My mom would have to fly from Chicago and stay with us to watch my kids. That would be my only realistic option. That or I'd have to enroll my DD in full time day care and pay for after school care for my DS once all my DH's vacation time ran out.

 

[Chelley00]

DH has federal jury duty. But DH works nights so he can do drop off/pick up of the kids each day.

My DH is a night shift worker too, and just got his notice for federal jury duty Nov 30th-Dec 31st. (Merry Christmas) DH takes care of DS4 3 days a week and its impossible for us to find childcare during the day.

Not to mention the lost wages. That's going to hurt right at Christmas

 

[Free4Life11]

Well I'm 24 and never been picked. I'd love to be on a jury! I hate my job so I would love the time off and I have no dependents so I would be a perfect jury member.

 

[justhat]

I live in Washington, DC and we have free childcare for children ages 2yo and up for jury duty. Of course, when I was called my daughter was 20 months old.... I postponed it for 3 months (the furthest out I could go) and had my mom come into town for the weekend and stay that Monday to pick my daughter up from school (preschool was only 8-11, no option for her to stay longer). I wasn't picked for a trial but from what I heard from others, having a child under 2yo (therefore not eligible for their free daycare) could get you dismissed if you didn't have childcare.

My husband has been called twice, and the 2nd time he was picked for a jury. During the juror interviews the judge asked him if he could take 3 weeks off from work, he said he could not, and he excused him right there.

 

[ilovepcot]

Gonna be fun, fun, FUN at my house in the morning. DH will probably get home around 2 a.m. from a special project he's doing at work. Have a snack, take a shower and hopefully be in bed by 3 a.m. or a bit later. Of course he won't be able to fall asleep as he's a night worker and not used to going to bed until very late. Anyway, he has to be up by 6 a.m. to eat, dress and drive to another town for JURY DUTY. He's going to feel hellish and be in a nasty mood from no sleep.

Tell me...would you, as a person going to trial, like to know that people being selected to "judge" you are hostile about having to serve as jurors? Not a good system the way I see it.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Gonna be fun, fun, FUN at my house in the morning. DH will probably get home around 2 a.m. from a special project he's doing at work. Have a snack, take a shower and hopefully be in bed by 3 a.m. or a bit later. Of course he won't be able to fall asleep as he's a night worker and not used to going to bed until very late. Anyway, he has to be up by 6 a.m. to eat, dress and drive to another town for JURY DUTY. He's going to feel hellish and be in a nasty mood from no sleep.

Tell me...would you, as a person going to trial, like to know that people being selected to "judge" you are hostile about having to serve as jurors? Not a good system the way I see it.

How would you suggest Lady Justice work?

Being "hostile" is a choice......probably not a good one in the court house.

 

[manning]

People say its a privilege and our civic duty.....well, who's gonna take care of my children then? My dh can get off work for jury duty, but a sahm really can't unless you have a babysitter or family around, both of which I don't.

Who's going to convict those who are quilty of commiting the crime that expose us to danger??

 

[kidshop]

I've been called twice and excused b/c I was breastfeeding! (different kids) Yes, it has endless benefits.

 

[PhotobearSam]

It might be because we are Canadian but DH -40, My Mom -63 and I-37 have never been called for JD or recall anyone we know having ever been called.


"I am sorry you guys have to go through this so often.

 

[manning]

That is not always as cut and dry as you make it sound. You can give me notice but that doesn't mean I am going to be able to find childcare. I also get that we have a civic duty but why should it cost me a fortune in childcare to be a juror? What if I simply do not have the money? Childcare for four children is not cheap. I think there needs to be a better system. I personally don't have an idea as to what but currently it is not the best set up. YMMV.

Nothing is perfect.

 

[FireDancer]

The system isn't perfect but it is what it is. In order for it to be fair it has to treat everyone equally, regardless of sex, class, and number of children. I have never been called, and while I don't want to do it I will if my number comes up.

As a PP said, a jury of your peers should include a mix of people, not only those with no kids or who already have child care. The system definitely has flaws but unless something better comes along we have to work with the flawed jury system we have.

 

[Skatermom23]

For most of my life I was excused from jury duty when I had small children and no family living nearby. Now that my kids are older and I am a SAHM, I looked forward to serving this past year...and wouldn't you know I got selected for a trial! I had a ball! I guess the timing was right for me and I really enjoyed being a part of the system. Can't wait for the next time... I still don't understand the picking part though. I have been choosen many times and DH has never been even called.... Why is that?

 

[HelenePA]

Do you really think it is that easy?

Sure my DH has a flexible enough job that he could take a vacation day but not everyone does. My DH would lose the day from his 2 weeks of paid vacation. However, my neighbor's husband, if he doesn't work, he doesn't get paid. Sure he could also take the day off but he'd lose that income. That is a family, who in this economy, is really hurting right now.

Should my family really be expected to drive more than 2 hours to watch my kids?

Do you have any idea what 10 hours of babysitting for 2 kids costs? I'd be looking at $100 for the day. How much does jury duty pay?

One day, ok. But sitting on a jury for weeks? Months? What do I do then? My mom would have to fly from Chicago and stay with us to watch my kids. That would be my only realistic option. That or I'd have to enroll my DD in full time day care and pay for after school care for my DS once all my DH's vacation time ran out.

Dont some day cares have year long lists? I've heard of people putting their kids on the list as soon as they find out they are pregnant.. I've been called 3 times each time was RIGHT after I had a baby. I was excused each time oh and I think jury duty pays 7$ a day I have no idea what I would do if this happened to me.. or him.. if he has to take that much time off of work that mean NO money coming in (besides that whopping 7$ a day of course) I dont wanna even think about it.

Anyway my mom served on a jury she was sequestered for a month I think.. I was in college my brother was a senior in HS or he might have already graduated. I can't remember. She LOVED it it was not a hardship on us at all. She was in a hotel the whole time. I remember leaving my chemistry class to go pick her up on Halloween night

 

[RadioNate]

Dont some day cares have year long lists? I've heard of people putting their kids on the list as soon as they find out they are pregnant.. I've been called 3 times each time was RIGHT after I had a baby. I was excused each time oh and I think jury duty pays 7$ a day I have no idea what I would do if this happened to me.. or him.. if he has to take that much time off of work that mean NO money coming in (besides that whopping 7$ a day of course) I dont wanna even think about it.

Anyway my mom served on a jury she was sequestered for a month I think.. I was in college my brother was a senior in HS or he might have already graduated. I can't remember. She LOVED it it was not a hardship on us at all. She was in a hotel the whole time. I remember leaving my chemistry class to go pick her up on Halloween night

I'm sure they do! I know good day cares around here are hard to get into and I doubt many take short term (like a month or 2) enrollment.

I get the system isn't perfect but there are things they could do to lessen the burden. $7 a day is laughable. I googled and federal jury duty pays $40 a day. That still wouldn't be enough to cover child care for the day. Pay varies by state. TX pays $6 on jury selection days and $40 a day if you are picked. FL pays $15 a day but only if your employer isn't paying you. That amount goes up to $30 a day if you are there longer than 4 days.

Providing child care on site and raising the juror stipend would go a long way towards easing the burden.

It shouldn't cost me money to serve.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I get that childcare for SAHM's children is really expensive, but many of us without a SAHP are also paying for childcare without getting paid during that time. We actually have free courthouse childcare where I live, but if I pulled DS out of daycare to go there I'd still have to pay to keep his slot.

You could also argue that for me, as a single parent, jury duty presents an extra hardship because I use up so many of my days off on sick days, parent teacher conferences etc . . . If I can take off for those, then I think most fathers with wives at home can take off if they absolutely have to -- taking care of your kids is part of parenting.

I don't think there's really a fair way to handle the situation, unless you ask everyone to serve. I can see making exceptions for those with very young children (although a friend of mine started jury duty the day she came back from maternity leave. Luckily she's lesbian and her partner was the one breastfeeding, but six weeks seems really early to me, plus missing another couple of weeks right after ML was hard), or special needs kids, but in general it's only going to work if everyone serves.

I do think that we need better laws that allow workers to take off if something happens to a spouse (like jury duty) and they need to do childcare, and that pays people when they're on jury duty.

 

[Becky2005]

It's definitely not family friendly with young children but it is what it is.

I think around here timing has to do when you renew your Driver's Licenses...either that or it's a *really* weird timing issue. It seems to happen to a lot of people after they renew, they get a summons. It's amazing.

I thik I'm good for a few more years, although maybe not? I think you can only be called every 3 years. My DL is due next year though. I got called & had to go to the courthouse but never made it to interview stage with an attorney. It's a good thing. I would make an awful juror. I had to be a character witness in a case & just going to the courthouse basically makes me sick to my stomach after that. I really dislike going there & can't even imagine being a juror.

DH just got called and he never even had to go in. He just called the Sunday before, they said they didn't need to report to the courthouse & to call back Monday night. He did & all those that had to call back Monday were excused.

This is county though. I know the Federal stuff is a bit different or Grand Jury (is that federal?). I know my dad was on the Grand Jury not too long ago. He had to go every Monday for several weeks I think it was. I think that is what it was called.

 

[NotUrsula]

It shouldn't cost me money to serve.

IME, it costs EVERYONE money to serve, one way or another. The one possible exception might be retirees. I long ago lost count of how many times I've been called -- but I've only served once. It was a murder trial involving a gang reprisal shooting, and the trial only lasted one day. (Yes, in spite of the way TV portrays murder trials, guys with dozens of assault and weapons priors can be convicted of murder in less than 8 hours when there are a dozen witnesses to the crime.)

Service here pays $12/day + bus fare or free parking, whichever you prefer. You get to pay for your own lunch, and proper attire is required -- if you don't own it then you had better either buy it or borrow it from someone. (No jeans, no sneakers, no tank tops and no shorts.) We get three months' notice when called, and they call us in writing with the dates of service on the summons. You can ask for one deferral, which is almost always granted, but you have to appear before the supervisor in person to do so. The expectation is generally not that a SAHP or night-shift worker will hire a temporary sitter -- the expectation is that you will find a friend or relative who can do you a favor for a couple of days, or that the child's other parent will take time off from work if necessary to cover child care. Many employers do not pay their employees for the days that they serve -- by law, the only protection is that an employee cannot be fired for being absent while serving as a juror. My own employer deducts the daily $12 from my paycheck.

IME, the issue of long service is not up to the jury supervisor, it is up to the trial attorneys. Wherever possible, they will use a hardship situation to challenge you for cause and prevent your service on that jury, because they don't really want jurors who are going to stick it to their clients because of the money that is being lost. For the most part, sole business owners, college students currently enrolled, or SAHP's of kids under about age 12 don't get chosen for complex trials that are predicted to last more than 3 days. (BTW, I've been married to an attorney for 19 years -- jury trials that last more than 3 days are EXTREMELY rare.)