Jury duty....

[pklein09]

We're headed to WDW technically to see our son sing at St. Luke's Cathedral in Orlando on Feb. 5. We're driving down, and have 5 nights booked at the Poly. We're due to arrive Feb 4 and leave Feb 9. I just got Jury Duty notice for Feb 8!!! I'm in Mercer County, NJ. I'm going to send them a copy of our paid invoice to the Poly and pray for pixie dust. I don't mind serving for jury duty, but the timing couldn't be worse. Has anyone had any experience with this?

 

[ticklemepink]

Don't worry. They shouldn't have a problem with postponing it.

 

[LocustPoint]

You should be ok. I had to change my jury duty last year when I was called on the same day as my MIL had surgery. They gave me a range of dates that I could reschedule for and I picked one that worked best for me. My experience is they will let you reschedule once. This was Baltimore City.

 

[Launchpad11B]

We're headed to WDW technically to see our son sing at St. Luke's Cathedral in Orlando on Feb. 5. We're driving down, and have 5 nights booked at the Poly. We're due to arrive Feb 4 and leave Feb 9. I just got Jury Duty notice for Feb 8!!! I'm in Mercer County, NJ. I'm going to send them a copy of our paid invoice to the Poly and pray for pixie dust. I don't mind serving for jury duty, but the timing couldn't be worse. Has anyone had any experience with this?

You're allowed one postponement.

 

[tiggerbell]

I've called twice in my life for postponements - once because I planned on being in labor and once because I was having surgery. 3 months later - like clockwork - I got my new notice.

I'm also one of those rare people who LIKE being on a jury - I think it's cuz I'm nosy!

 

[KimStaR]

That is so weird. I just got a jury duty summons in the mail today too. I live in Monmouth County. I don't want to go! It's for the end of February. I am a nurse. Maybe they will let me not go because of that! It is worth a shot. I am afraid if it goes to trial my work would make me take vacation days. I will have to look into the policy.

 

[pklein09]

Thanks for all the support! I'm going to call the clerk's office tomorrow and see about a postponement. Faith, trust, and pixie dust.....and a lot of crossed fingers!

 

[jcb]

That is so weird. I just got a jury duty summons in the mail today too. I live in Monmouth County. I don't want to go! It's for the end of February. I am a nurse. Maybe they will let me not go because of that! It is worth a shot. I am afraid if it goes to trial my work would make me take vacation days. I will have to look into the policy.

I seriously doubt New Jersey allows employers to require employees to use vacation days for jury duty. That isn't to say the employer must pay you for those days.

New Jersey courts appear to have a good FAQ for jurors (number 17 addresses employer compensation). Exemptions are also discussed.
http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/juryreporting/juryfqa.pdf

 

[cdrn1]

That is so weird. I just got a jury duty summons in the mail today too. I live in Monmouth County. I don't want to go! It's for the end of February. I am a nurse. Maybe they will let me not go because of that! It is worth a shot. I am afraid if it goes to trial my work would make me take vacation days. I will have to look into the policy.

I'm a nurse manager. One of our employees got called for jury duty at a time when our census was really high and we had several staff off on sick leave. I had to fax the judge a letter detailing why we needed her to be at work. He excused her but she did have to serve in the next quarter.
Our facility will pay employees for jury duty. We pay the difference between what the court pays and the employee's base pay. They don't have to use vacation days.

 

[wdwscout]

I'm in Burlington County, NJ and also recently got a Jury Duty notice- for next week.
On my form there was a spot where you could ask for postponements.
Read your form again- not sure if every county is different, or if the whole state uses the same form. If we're all the same- there's a spot right there for you to fill in!! I'm sure you'll have no problem.

 

[mrzrich]

I was called for next week, Jan 4th. I will be in WDW on that day. In my county we can apply for postponment online. I did so. Got an e-mail asking me to pick a Monday in March to serve.

 

[MelissaFromRI]

We're headed to WDW technically to see our son sing at St. Luke's Cathedral in Orlando on Feb. 5. We're driving down, and have 5 nights booked at the Poly. We're due to arrive Feb 4 and leave Feb 9. I just got Jury Duty notice for Feb 8!!! I'm in Mercer County, NJ. I'm going to send them a copy of our paid invoice to the Poly and pray for pixie dust. I don't mind serving for jury duty, but the timing couldn't be worse. Has anyone had any experience with this?

This happened to me in May of this year
I had to fax them a copy of my airline tickets and a copy of my hotel reservation , plus a note explaining why I couldn't serve. I was excused and have not yet been asked to serve again

 

[DisneyKevin]

January 14th for me.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I've called twice in my life for postponements - once because I planned on being in labor and once because I was having surgery. 3 months later - like clockwork - I got my new notice.

I'm also one of those rare people who LIKE being on a jury - I think it's cuz I'm nosy!

You know I vote in every election and I have NEVER been called in 12 years of voting.

 

[yitbos96bb]

I seriously doubt New Jersey allows employers to require employees to use vacation days for jury duty. That isn't to say the employer must pay you for those days.

New Jersey courts appear to have a good FAQ for jurors (number 17 addresses employer compensation). Exemptions are also discussed.
http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/juryreporting/juryfqa.pdf

I may be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure they can't make you take vacation or fire you for jury duty. I believe that is illegal.

 

[MelissaFromRI]

You know I vote in every election and I have NEVER been called in 12 years of voting.

Lucky You !!!

 

[Joshua_me]

I've known several people who have just completely ignored their summons for jury duty and nothing has ever happened to any of them.

Most, if not all states simply don't have the money or manpower to keep track of such things, let alone have the resources to "go after" people that do not report for their civic duty.

I certainly am NOT advocating blowing off your responsibilities, but just know that things are a bit more lenient than you might imagine.

 

[pklein09]

I certainly am NOT advocating blowing off your responsibilities, but just know that things are a bit more lenient than you might imagine.

The last time I was called, I had 2 children in grade school, 1 in preschool, and 1 at home, with no one nearby to help with childcare. According to the State of New Jersey, you can get a hardship excuse if you have to care for another person. When I called the clerks office, they told me I could get a hardship excuse for elder care but not young children. What?!? They said if it was elder care, I could get a note from their doctor stating that they needed care, but not from a pediatrician. I said fine, that I would show up with the kids in tow. They told me I couldn't because they wouldn't be allowed on the shuttle from the parking to the courthouse. Fine, I'll pay for my own parking and show up in the courhouse with my kids. They told me I wasn't allowed to bring my children to the courthouse. My number was in the 2000s, so I got lucky and they didn't call my number, but boy did I sweat it out that week.

 

[Stacy's a freak]

I would actually LIKE to be on a jury! I think it would be fun ... well, maybe. But since I work for a law office, my firm pays for those days as regular work days so I wouldn't be out anything.

And I agree with most of the posters, I'm sure you won't have a problem having your service postponed - it's not a biggie.

 

[DisneyDoc5]

I have been called 3x in the last 10 years, first time I was 9 mo. preg and went, didn't get picked for a trial, next time I was nursing, got a pass for that one, and the last time I tried to get out of it with 3 little ones and having to pay a sitter and the judge DENIED me and told me I had to come! So I did and sat there and didn't get picked. It was a cool experience, but it's so interesting how some people get picked all the time and others never do. I think you can get out of it if you had a pre-exisiting trip planned, just keep trying. Good Luck!