Jury Duty... what is the longest one you served?

[Papa Deuce]

And what was it about?

My wife was called for September 11th. We have plans to go away the 14th. I'm hoping it is short.

Anyway, I have been called 3x and was sent home each time without actually sitting in on a trial.

 

[pearlieq]

I was once on for 4 days. It was an civil case of a body shop suing an insurance company for payment for work performed. It was actually pretty interesting. It sure proved the whole "you get what you pay for" thing in terms of lawyers.

Lots of counties will let you defer if you call and explain. If she happens to get called, she can mention it during voir dire. Odds are good she will be dismissed. I don't think either attorney would want to deal with a juror furious to be there (For a good reason, I mean. Not just stupid "I don't wanna serve jury duty-itis" )

 

[Papa Deuce]

I was once on for 4 days. It was an civil case of a body shop suing an insurance company for payment for work performed. It was actually pretty interesting. It sure proved the whole "you get what you pay for" thing in terms of lawyers.

Lots of counties will let you defer if you call and explain. If she happens to get called, she can mention it during voir dire. Odds are good she will be dismissed. I don't think either attorney would want to deal with a juror furious to be there (For a good reason, I mean. Not just stupid "I don't wanna serve jury duty-itis" )

Will try that. She is actually HAPPY to be called. She wants to serve....... keeps her out of the office!

 

[LiteBrite]

My only jury duty was 20 years ago in Nashville, but at that time we were called for a 2 week period, during which time we had to show up at the courthouse every day, and be called for any number of trials. I served on 2 trials during my stint, the first one of which was a murder trial that I was sequestered for in a hotel for 5 nights.

I'm glad that this no longer seems to be the way it's done.

 

[Serena]

My longest was just a day.

My suggestion is to have her send the notice in and defer it a month or so. It is an option and that way she won't postpone it too long. You have up to a year. I think you have to explain, but I can't see there will be a problem.

 

[Mary Ellen]

I last had jury duty this past November, about 10 days before a trip to WDW. I could have deferred, but I went (better than wait until winter when the weather can be bad) and most cases last no longer than 1-3 days. When they called a LARGE number of us for the first jury pool I knew it was a BIG case. It was a 1st degree murder, during commission of a robbery. Trial was expected to last 2 weeks - then go to the jury. We had a 10 page questionaire to fill out, one of the questions was about upcomming travel plans.

After the break while the Judge and both sides went over our answers, 4 of us were excused first thing. I'm not sure it was my planned vacation, that I used to work for a police department or that my FIL was at one time the director of a Police Academy in the state... Of the others who were immediately excused, ones mother had been the best friend of the victim and another was a County Sheriff who knew the City Officers involved.

They should be able to predict the length of the trial before it starts, but some Judges don't care about vacation plans. Good Luck

 

[Geoff_M]

As recommended, call your court clerk's office and politely ask if you can postpone your service a few weeks down the road. One time to make sure they knew I wasn't just trying to weasel my way out I actually offered to come in earlier when I had a business conflict! Our courts allow one "free pass" on this without question.

As for your question, the longest I served was 6 days in the jury box over about a 10 day period for a malpractice case.

 

[Kycha]

I have served jury duty twice(3 days @ time), but never went to trial. In Lancaster County, civil court trials are held in the first and third quarter of the year, and criminal court trials are held in the second and fourth quarter. Minimum service for criminal court is 2 - 3 days, and 5 days for civil court. It is getting more difficult to get out of jury duty, at least in Lancaster County. There were a number of people that were denied exemption from jury duty. One woman tried because she had an upcoming vacation, denied. Another tried to get out of it due to her age(65), denied. Another, was the wife of one of the judges, denied.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I got called last winter but being a student got me excused(tech school for computers) and since it was a malpractice I think it was because I'm dating a CNA

 

[GeorgeG]

13 weeks, including 3 days of deliberation. It was interesting and I learned a lot.

 

[poptoone]

Was called for next Monday the 14th. Have some things going on at work and got deferred until Dec. Saw in paper this morning a local major murder trial is scheduled for the 14th. I'm extra glad I got it deferred now!

 

[Papa Deuce]

My longest was just a day.

My suggestion is to have her send the notice in and defer it a month or so. It is an option and that way she won't postpone it too long. You have up to a year. I think you have to explain, but I can't see there will be a problem.

No longer a concern..... trip was cancelled. Thanks all.

 

[Kitty 34]

The longest I served was just one day but it was an awesome experience!


I have had to defer jury duty a couple different times because I always seem to get called during the winter and I'm off in the summer. It's never been a problem, tho, to defer. Took just a phone call.