SAHM/Student got Jury Duty Summons? Help?

[DopeysMommy]

Please don't flame me for wanting to get out of jury duty. . .but I got a summons today to report for jury duty about 45 minutes away, on a day that have school & carpool for my sons, and graduate school for me about 90 minutes the other direction from the court. UGH!

Any wording suggestions on how to phrase the "hardship letter"? I truly do not have anyone else to carpool for me, and I have to be in preschool with my youngest, who is speech delayed.

 

[Matt'sMom]

In general, if you are providing care for a child under the age of 12, you can be excused from jury duty. At least that was still listed as a valid reason to be excused, the last time that I was summoned for jury duty. Simply explain that you have minor children under that age (including a preschooler with 'special needs'), and that it is necessary for you to be home during the day to provide transportation & care.

 

[Crystal824]

Typically, at least in my state, you can get out of jury duty if you are a student.

 

[lisadr]

You can defer jury duty for 2 years if you are a caretaker (wording) for someone else. I got a summons last year and I would have had to be 40 mins from my home by 8 am and my DD gets on the bus at 8:35 am. So I called the court and they gave me the extension.

It's not getting out of it, I wanted to serve, but I couldn't. Just call the court and explain the situation.

 

[DopeysMommy]

I have to send it in writing, so I was hoping for some wording suggestions. thanks for the help!!! the summons only mentions medical hardship, so I didn't know if kids were enough reason

 

[lisadr]

I have to send it in writing, so I was hoping for some wording suggestions. thanks for the help!!! the summons only mentions medical hardship, so I didn't know if kids were enough reason

Oh sorry I didn't see they wanted a letter as well. I can't remember if I had to send one too??? In any case I would simply state that because you a re the caretaker of your children, appearing for jury duty would interfere with their school schedule. I would also mention your school schedule as well. A short simple statement should work fine.

But a quick question? Did you speak to the court clerk or are you just going by the summons? Because when I spoke to the clerk, she was the one who told me about the 2 year deferment. Maybe your clerk can tell you the exact wording you need to use.

Good luck!

 

[rainy~daze]

I received a summons the twice in the last 3 years. But am SAHM who home schools. All I put is 'SAHM to 7 and 5 yo' I was excused both times no question.

ETA: I can't wait till I can actually be able to serve. I have always wanted to and think it would be so neat!

 

[NotUrsula]

None of the above would get you out in my jurisdiction, except for asking for a deferment. THAT you will get, but not a dismissal. Here you would be advised to tell the clerk exactly which week you could serve, and that would be the week you got.

Here it says on the summons in nice big print that prospective jurors are responsible for finding child care for their duty dates, and that children are NOT allowed to accompany the juror to the courthouse; if you bring them anyway you will be ticketed for contempt of court.

We do get our summons two months in advance, so the feeling is that one has plenty of time to arrange child care.

 

[EnchantedPrincess]

I think you will be excused if you are a mom to a child(ren) 12 yrs old or younger...I have gotten couple jury duty summoms in the last 5 years that I had stayed home. On the back of my form, they list all the reasons you can be excused, and one of them was being a caretaker to someone 12 or under. I didn't have to send in a letter.

 

[MMmomto5]

My dh received a letter last year to serve. He is a full time student and would have failed class if he missed a clinical day (anesthesia school). He wrote a letter explaining this and was excused.

I was also excused a few years back when my reason was my c-section date.

Good luck!

 

[czycropper]

Call the Jury Court Clerk and make sure that you need to have it in writing. Most counties will take the first excuse verbally.

I was the Exec. Director of the County Bar Association for many years and worked closely with the Jury Clerk so that's the reason I know.

The one thing I didn't do was get my DH out of Grand Jury Duty even when the Judge called me and said "your DH is on the list", "I said yes, and since I can never sit on any jury he's going to serve for both of us" - the Judge still kids us about that whenever we run into him He's now saying that since I'm no longer working that he's going to put me name into the pool - and I keep telling him no attorney in this county would put in the jury - which is the truth!

 

[dolfinjuls]

I was excused last year although I did have to send the excuse in writing. I was excused for having two young children, one breastfeeding that wouldn't take a bottle at the time. At least that's what I had written down!

 

[carmie3377]

I was excused when i was summoned last summer since I am a SAHM to a preschooler.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Ironically I got a summons in the mail today

In CT you can reschudule to a date of your choosing up to 10 months in the future. Pretty convenient

I checked my reason boxes and there is nothing regarding students or moms. But there is a phone number to call with other questions. I have no reason not to sreve so off I will go and bring a good book

 

[delmar411]

None of the above would get you out in my jurisdiction, except for asking for a deferment. THAT you will get, but not a dismissal. Here you would be advised to tell the clerk exactly which week you could serve, and that would be the week you got.

Here it says on the summons in nice big print that prospective jurors are responsible for finding child care for their duty dates, and that children are NOT allowed to accompany the juror to the courthouse; if you bring them anyway you will be ticketed for contempt of court.

We do get our summons two months in advance, so the feeling is that one has plenty of time to arrange child care.

Same in IN. I got a one time deferment as a courtesy and was told they provide free childcare if there is no one else to care for the children. I called in each day the second time and I was never called in so it was a moot point.

 

[mommy2paris]

State of MD does not accept "sahm" as an excuse... They were courteous enough to finally extend me only one week where I had to serve each day if a panel was called, instead of the old 3 month term you were accountable for.
I was in major panic mode, as I was home with 2 young kids, and no family / friends to help us out, short of them taking off work.

This year, they have shortened your summons time to 30 days, but it would still be hard to find care for 2 young kids with little to no notice on particular days.

Good luck!

 

[Tricia819]

My office manager always said to take the kids with you and if they say anything about they not being allowed to be there calmly tell them that you had nothing else to do with them. You'd be immediately excused.

 

[Mkrop]

I just wrote a note saying I was SAHM and was unable to serve.

 

[Towers5]

I have been in college for 4 years, I have managed to get a summons once a year for each year. There is nothing on the summons other than "Medical reasons" for dismissal. So I went to the court house and advised them that I was a full time college student. They gave me a form to fill out and have noterized and I had to provide them documentaion form the college verifing I was indeed a college student. The funny part is I have had to do this each year for the past four.


Tracy

 

[mommy2paris]

Some counties / states must be much more leniant that others... When I told our jury duty commissioner I would bring my kids since I had nothing else to do with them, she told me I would be held in contempt of court and could be arrested. I asked her if I could be arrested for leaving a 7 month old & 2 yr old at home alone, b/c that is what I would have to do...