prospective juror - will it affect our trip?

[angelkk]

DH received the questionnaire as to qualifications for jury service on Friday. Just curious to know how long would it take to know if he will be selected? If he is selected for a court case, will he know the "exact dates" that he needs to be in Canada?

We have booked our Dec/Jan trip to NY-WDW-DCL (Dec 22 - Jan 17), and worried if it will be affected. We don't have any trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

 

[sejeta]

When I got my questionaire. I was on EI and when I finally got my date to appear in court for Jury Duty it was well over 6 months. In fact I thought I would never hear from them again. Is there a place to put you will be on vacation from such and such date? If there is a note I would put this just incase you get a letter saying to appear in court when you are away, or even give them a call.

When I finally did get my date I went, wasn't picked but I had to go back a couple of weeks later but my DS had started speech and I had to take him during the day so I was excused. Many people were getting excused because they were going on vacation or had appointment so I really wouldn't worry. Plus there will be no court during the christmas holidays. Have a great trip!

HTH

 

[tricia]

You may not hear from then. And if you do it will only be to show up for jury selection day. If you do have to go for jury selection day before your trip just bring some confirmation of your trip with you in case they do want to pick you and it will conflict, you will have an out.

 

[Ham Ham]

It is your civic duty to fill it out.
But somehow if the form never found its way back, the government can't prove you ever received it.
Just sayin.

 

[Eno]

About 6 years ago same thing happened to me - I had to go a couple of weeks prior to my trip for selection, I was picked for a case and had to go up and say if there was any reason that I couldn't attend the trial - I said - But I'm going to DisneyWorld. The judge asked if I had already booked and if I could produce tickets/confirmation. I had it all with me but he didn't need to see it. I was told I would be called back another time - so far nothing yet... just wait, I'm going back to Disney Aug 09.

 

[bdoyledimou]

I filled out the questionnaire back in 2004... and 'heard anything since..

it's not anything to stress about really.

 

[angelkk]

Thanks everyone! That was a little stressful to us, since we were afraid to disappoint our kids if we have to cancel/postpone because of this jury service.

Eno, sejeta - when you were picked (I assume you will receive a 2nd letter?) - Is there a time-frame between you received tje letter and the date you have to appear? (Say you got letter today and asked you to appear court in two weeks?) Maybe I am thinking too much (since we will be away for almost 1 month) - what happen if DH is picked for a case while we are away (i.e. nobody home)?

Proof of travel - we have proof (WDW invoices, DCL invoices, plane tickets) for the 2nd half of our trip (i.e. Jan 3 - Jan 17). We planned to drive down to New York City and spend 10 days at my cousin's house prior to that (i.e. no proof, no hotel receipt) and then fly out from Buffalo on Jan 3. How could we show proof for the 1st part of our trip? As Sejeta mentioned, DH should be OK since the first part is Christmas time ~ no court

Just curious to know - if he is picked for a case that trial starts on Dec 10, I assume he has to attend court every day until the case is closed? If he appeared for the week and the case is still not done - can he leave in the middle of the case since our family vacation is approaching?

Sorry for too many questions - 1st family member ever being picked. A friend scares me by saying that for some criminal case, the juror cannot go home (no connection to the public) until a result is finalized

 

[bdoyledimou]

If only court was that exciting..

Unless it's a high profile trial (like a politician) it probably will take a few hours.. very few cases go over days, its just that those are the ones ya read about in the newspaper

 

[TimNDansMom]

We arrived home from Orlando last night and there were questionnaires in the mail for both DH and Dan who is currently living in London attending UWO.

I'm not sure when I will be going to London next to give him the paperwork, or how this works with students? Has anyone had this experience and should I put this back in the mail to him at his London address? It says to return the questionnaire in 5 days of receiving it.

 

[Melmac]

I received the questionnaire a couple of years ago and about a 1/2 year after I filled it out and mailed it back, I got my summons for jury selection. If I remember right, it had a lead time of about a month or 6 weeks (e.g. if I received it today, the date might have been for the end of November). There was a phone number and the name of someone to call if I was unable to attend the selection. It happens that the date was right in the middle of a trip I had planned to WDW so I called and explained that I already had a paid vacation planned. The woman on the phone said it was no problem, she asked me to fax some confirmations to her to prove it (I sent the airline e-ticket and the resort confirmation) and then she delayed my summons. Apparently, when you ask to be excused for vacation, they put you in a future jury selection. Sure enough, 5 or so months after the vacation, I got my second jury summons. It was for 2 cases - one was expected to last a week, the other for a couple of days. The trials were to start the day after selection. I was excused for one trial (I knew one of the witnesses) and I wasn't selected for the other.
If it comes before your trip and selection is during your trip, just contact the number in the letter and explain your situation. Here, in my city, they were very helpful although mentioned to me three or four times that it was just a postponement and not a cancellation. I think they wanted me to understand that I was not about to skip my "duty" as a citizen.
Hope this helps!

 

[Eno]

Don't worry - think I had about 4 - 6 weeks notice - it comes registered mail so if you aren't there and are on vacation - no worry. If they pick a date when you are going to be away - then yest you call and they will give you another time to attend. No you have to be available for the entire length of the trial and they do give you an indication as to how long it will be. Mine was a long one figured a couple weeks at least so people got off if they attended school, if they would suffer financial hardship...etc. The trials start within a day or two. Since you have some confirmation of booking thats all you need - they didn't even ask me for mine.

 

[sejeta]

but I can't remember how long between letters it was but I don't think it was that quick. I think it was a few months. I really didn't think I would hear from them, boy was I surprised.

If you have a trip already booked they can't make you be a juror.

There was a student when I was there and he had come all the way from the London area the night before to attend Jury duty because he was away from school but his home address was in Durham. I felt sorry for him because he was sent right away and they told him to go home and he would be excused from coming back. I don't know if this is the norm but a call would have solved him making the long way home just for Jury Duty. There were lots of people getting excused for trips or medical reasons,and lots of other reasons too.

I would just fill in the paper work and go on the trip. If for some reason your letter for jury duty does come while your on vacation I doubt it will be for when you are away but if your worried I would give them a call after filling it in and let them know you will be on vacation.

Really I wouldn't stress too much about it but I know its hard to do.

HTH

 

[tgropp]

About 6 years ago same thing happened to me - I had to go a couple of weeks prior to my trip for selection, I was picked for a case and had to go up and say if there was any reason that I couldn't attend the trial - I said - But I'm going to DisneyWorld. The judge asked if I had already booked and if I could produce tickets/confirmation. I had it all with me but he didn't need to see it. I was told I would be called back another time - so far nothing yet... just wait, I'm going back to Disney Aug 09.

I was in the same boat once also.....but it was the funniest thing. When the judge asked if anyone could not serve, please line up at the right, about 90% of the people got up. Some of the reasons were hilarious. People do not want to serve as jurors.

 

[sammi]

DH just got the form to fill out too for prospective jurors....... and we're off to Orlando soon too but nothing to worry about as this has happened to him before!

For some strange reason they love him as a potential juror!!!