Jury Duty! Please NO!

[michelle06]

I just received my jury duty summons. We leave on a Friday and the summons is for the week that includes that Friday. So, while it's not the end of the world, it could potentially eat that whole day from us (leaving early am). And if I end up on a long trial, it could totally ruin our vacation!

Is there any way out of this? I am happy to serve, just not if it ruins my vacation. Any other week would have been fine. Last time I served, people gave very good reasons to get out of it and the judge was quite strict. I think they had many less show up for duty than they expected.

I think I will just have to tell them that if they found their way into court, they must be guilty! No, I don't believe that, but I also notice that those who give extreme answers do not get picked.

Thanks for letting me vent. I have looked so forward to this trip! A criminal really can mess things up for someone not even involved!

 

[Disneykidsdad]

If you just got the summons there should be a response that you can return with a reason to be excused. Tell them you have the vacation planned and that it will be a financial hardship if you have to cancel. And that you would be happy to serve at a later date.

 

[pg0314]

Last time I was called for jury duty, the judge took vacation plans into account. There were a couple people in the jury pool who had trips planned for the week that the trial was supposed to take place and they were all dismissed without question.

 

[marmalade]

I just received my jury duty summons. We leave on a Friday and the summons is for the week that includes that Friday. So, while it's not the end of the world, it could potentially eat that whole day from us (leaving early am). And if I end up on a long trial, it could totally ruin our vacation!

Is there any way out of this? I am happy to serve, just not if it ruins my vacation. Any other week would have been fine. Last time I served, people gave very good reasons to get out of it and the judge was quite strict. I think they had many less show up for duty than they expected.

I think I will just have to tell them that if they found their way into court, they must be guilty! No, I don't believe that, but I also notice that those who give extreme answers do not get picked.

Thanks for letting me vent. I have looked so forward to this trip! A criminal really can mess things up for someone not even involved!

I am in NY state and I was chosen a few years ago after my 2nd DS was born, if I remember correctly they will allow you to postpone your dates if you call. I would check your states rules. If you can show your documentation for your vacation, they might just reschedule your for when you come back.

 

[JessiMommy]

Here in South Florida there is a place on the original summons to put vacation scheduled as an excused reason. You don't even have to show up, they just reschedule you for another time. I would look into seeing if you can reschedule. Vacation has got to be an excusable reason. Good Luck!

 

[lurkernj]

Yes, this happened to us too. We sent a note back stating we would be on vacation and could serve another date. They responded back with a different date. No problems.

 

[summermac]

I had a work conference for one of the weeks I was on jury duty. (In Ohio it's 3 mos total and you can be called in on the Friday before to report Monday.) On my paperwork I just put on there the days I was unavailable. In fact they asked on the papers. CALL today!

 

[seashoreCM]

Is there any way out of this? I am happy to serve, just not if it ruins my vacation. Any other week would have been fine. Last time I served, people gave very good reasons to get out of it and the judge was quite strict. I think they had many less show up for duty than they expected.!

There is a difference between "just going on vacation" and going on vacation with non-refundable airplane tickets already purchased, a cruise ship already booked, etc.

Include that in your reason for being excused if space permits.

Do not mention things like the defendant must be guilty.

When stating the days you will be on vacation I am thinking it would be wise to add two days to the end, just in case your plane home gets cancelled and you are "stranded" at Disney.

 

[bobbiwoz]

In Ohio, last year, I was able to provide an alternate week that I would be availaable.

 

[Ktharee]

just call, you will be able to postpone.

 

[sharon_wv]

I was called for jury duty for the first time in my life beginning tomorrow for the month of May. In the questionnaire I had to complete there were valid excuses. My notice says, "You will be excused if you are a full time college student, for vacations, over the age of 70, and medical appointments, so please list those dates on the enclosed questionnaire and keep this office informed of any changes or additional dates."

I hope your jurisdiction has the same rules!

 

[chartle]

It all depends on where you live, but I got my duty moved a month since my wife was due that week.

As other have posted, most states/counties will allow you at least one postponement no real questions asked. If you keep doing it they get a little upset and sometimes send Sheriffs to your door.

 

[linzbear]

You should be able to get deferred.

Telling them that you think they're guilty before trial is a good way to get yourself ON jury duty. They know you're full of it and trying to get out of it, so they'll put you on the worst one they have because they can. Being honest always works better.

 

[KittyKitty]

I just got a jury summons last week. On it was a place to defer it for up to 6 months. Original date was middle of June. I changed it to middle of Sept. It was so easy to do online.

 

[MolonLabe]

I just got a jury summons last week. On it was a place to defer it for up to 6 months. Original date was middle of June. I changed it to middle of Sept. It was so easy to do online.

Most states are likethat. IIRC you can only defer twice before having to appear. First defferal can be for virtually anything.

 

[Geoff_M]

Just call them and ask for a change in dates. The key is to be clear to them that you aren't just trying to weasel out of serving. I had to call one time due to a conflict, and I volunteered to come in earlier than my scheduled date. The clerk was very helpful and even rescheduled me into a court that was closer to my home.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I wouldn't go the " they must be guilty route". Too obvious. They don't like people who watch the news a lot, or read newspapers. That was one of the things I was asked.

Also, if you are a medical person, they tend not to want you, especially in a case with lots of medical type evidence. You know too much, lol. Most of the nurses I know, including myself have been dismissed.

 

[LaurenT]

It depends on what state you're in I guess, or maybe county.
Here in upstate NY, I just call the automated number and postpone jury duty 6 months...no explanation needed. They allow this one time.
I actually had a conflict for the second date as well and they pushed it back again for me when I called the court directly.
The third date wasn't ideal, but I didn't want to ask for another excuse, so I just called in the night I was instructed to. There was no case, so I was released and excused for 6 years....

 

[ktlm]

As others have said, call or go in now and try to get your dates changed. If you wait until the week of and ask to be released when you show up, you are less likely to be successful as you saw last time you appeared. Most places, if you contact them immediately after getting the notice and advise them of a pre-booked vacation, they are pretty good about switching the dates to a different week.

 

[michelle06]

OP here. My return form is fairly strict with excuse reasons. Either you don't know English or are a felon. I did call and it said you had to make a formal plea in writing. Again, from my previous experience, it's not easy in my county. I will let them know I've paid money already. As far as other dates, not sure how flexible that is either. I'll send my form in and see what happens.
Thanks, everyone!