Jury Duty the day I Disembark!!

[FigmentSpark]

Interesting that they only give you a few week's notice. You'd think these sorts of things could be planned in advance and they'd have a pool of people 'on call' for jury duty at any given time.

 

[Aerin75]

Caution: every state/city is different and has different rules/policies!

It's not easy to be excused in Indianapolis (the notification states you must GO to the courthouse to request to be excused. yeah, no. Perhaps you are in the hospital or are away on vacation) and the courts have a 50% no show rate [with a threat of a fine or bench warrant if you don't serve]...it's crazy! And very frustrating for those of us who would like to comply but need reasonable ways to do so....no phone number is provided to talk with a real person...the courts just summon twice as many people as they need...geez

Good luck OP

And when you call after 5 and have a question the office is closed and you are out of luck until the next morning. Oh the joys of the Indianapolis courts! Had to go through this last week.

 

[MPS516]

TN courts are very accommodating. Depending on which court or district you are serving will impact how they handle your situation. Two weeks notice is fairly normal, that is in part why they understand when people have appearance issues. Your notice should say whether you can call or have to show up if unable to appear, do it ASAP. If you are one of the lucky very very few, they may just release you. Monday after you handle it, laugh at how nervous it made you.

 

[CamColt]

I got called for federal jury duty in Maryland which is an entire month. They deferred me from May to June (DD's graduation). But we have a cruise booked July 4. If I get on a trial the end of June that will go long, I'm not going to be a happy juror...

Just be sure to let them know during the initial questioning that you have this cruise booked. My niece was in the same situation a few years back when 10 of us had a cruise planned. She let the judge know and the judge assured her if she got picked they would be done by the date of the cruise. She did get picked and if I remember right she finished with a day to spare before the cruise.

 

[soniam]

Being called up does not guarantee that you will be on the jury. I got called up for a DUI. I wasn't trying to get our jury duty, but I did answer honestly to the questions. The defense didn't really like my answers, so they booted me out. I have had family, including my father, and friends killed or injured in DUI related car crashes, so it's hard for me to be lenient on penalties once the defendant is found guilty. I got called up for another one, but they plea bargained before any of us actually had to go through the selection process.

 

[xlxo]

When I got the notice..... I walk into the local courts with my plane ticket and dated receipt the next morning. I was excused on the spot.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We're in Illinois. I have postponed in past a few times by sending a copy of my flight information showing I'm not in town. And they put it off for a few months and send me another notice. My husband is a lawyer and would never want someone on a jury that had to cancel a vacation. However if you don't respond Yu will be in trouble.

 

[jillbean78]

You should be able to ask to be rescheduled. I had to and they asked no questions just gave me a new date. I'm in Ohio.

 

[LADYnTRAMP]

I had this happen once , not Disney, but another planned vacation. Somewhere on your notice should be a phone number or contact of some type, where you ask for a postponement. If not, contact the clerk of the court or where person signed the letter/ notice and contact them. In fact I would trot down there Monday, cruise papers in hand.

I really do not think you will have a problem.

*keeping my fingers crossed for you*


AKK

Thanks, that's what I intend to do. I may call first but the court lines are usually so busy on a Monday morning that I'll probably just gather all my documents and take a ride downtown. I fly out next Sunday and don't have time to put it off.

 

[LADYnTRAMP]

Caution: every state/city is different and has different rules/policies!

It's not easy to be excused in Indianapolis (the notification states you must GO to the courthouse to request to be excused. yeah, no. Perhaps you are in the hospital or are away on vacation) and the courts have a 50% no show rate [with a threat of a fine or bench warrant if you don't serve]...it's crazy! And very frustrating for those of us who would like to comply but need reasonable ways to do so....no phone number is provided to talk with a real person...the courts just summon twice as many people as they need...geez

Good luck OP

Exactly! There is only a number to call if you are seriously ill or have a criminal record. It says otherwise I MUST appear so I guess I will call then go downtown with all my documents Monday morning. My stomach has been in knots. : /

 

[richkaryn]

Thank You, Everyone. I'm in TN and hopefully will be able to postpone it. Have to wait til Monday morning naturally before I can call. I'm trying to relax but it's slow happening!

You can delay it in TN as well....... we live in TN and my DH has had jury duty many a time..last time was when we had our Hawaii trip scheduled for that time period. I however would love the opportunity to have jury duty (I think it would be interesting) yet I have never been called to serve. DH has had county multiple times and federal once in last 15 years. Crazy!

 

[BigredNole]

The clerks managing Jury Duty hear every kind of story imaginable. They are also extremely accommodating for real issues. You have a trip booked and paid for. All they would need is proof as such and they will either dismiss you or postpone it. My wife was 8 months pregnant and on bed rest. We called and got an idiot who asked for us to prove it. I told him to call her OBGYN. I casll back 10 minutes later, get someone else, explain the situation, and she asked for the OBGYN. She called them right after we spoke, called me back in 10 minutes, and dismissed her.

 

[MSPeeler]

I just received my paperwork back from the state/county that I am excused for the dates I requested.

I filled out the paperwork online instead of mailing the big packet back to them.

 

[LADYnTRAMP]

I just received my paperwork back from the state/county that I am excused for the dates I requested.

I filled out the paperwork online instead of mailing the big packet back to them.

How long did it take to receive your reply?

 

[MSPeeler]

How long did it take to receive your reply?

I completed the form online on April 29th and got the notices of approval in the mail Saturday, May 7, so not long!

 

[LADYnTRAMP]

I completed the form online on April 29th and got the notices of approval in the mail Saturday, May 7, so not long!

That is good! Unfortunately I received mine this past Friday and we leave this coming Sunday. I haven't made any progress this morning so I'm about to head Downtown. Keeping my fingers crossed!

 

[MSPeeler]

That is good! Unfortunately I received mine this past Friday and we leave this coming Sunday. I haven't made any progress this morning so I'm about to head Downtown. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Good Luck! It's a mad house down there I'm sure you'll find SOMEONE who can help you!

 

[LADYnTRAMP]

Whew! I got it all taken care of without much problem. It feels like a weight has been lifted!