topic Re: Federal Jury Duty in Community Chat

Federal Jury Duty

Shorty2U — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 21:27:49 GMT

Ugh!!! I got called for Federal jury duty in Philly. 1.5 or so (almost 2 hours) from where we live. A. I have chronic back pain and take multiple medications. B. I am not to drive (and cant stay in motels like this). C. My husbands about to go for corneal transplant in weeks.

(There is no date on the forms for when jury duty would be if need to go?).

I filled them all out and am going to call my Dr tomorrow to see if he will provide a letter. If not I'm going to have DH drive me to my pain team Friday to see if they will.

Oh Id love to be on jury duty but I cant do it. It would be an extreme hardship, especially to do Federal vs local!

PS I haven't been called for duty since I had cancer almost 7 years ago and couldn't go then to the local one due to back issues and going daily for treatment. But then I had a different Dr. This new Dr wouldn't even sign my paper to get "our own" money back for a concert I could not attend, (that I took insurance out for), so I hope he signs for this or I don't know what I am going to do!

Re: Federal Jury Duty

Scooby Doo — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 21:37:31 GMT

I was notified that I was on call for jury duty last year for the month of January, but I never got any call. Even if you do get called there's no guarantee that you will be chosen for the jury. I think there are less jury trials than in the past. Judges like to have the attorneys settle the cases out of court, or a trial with only the judge and not a jury. They try to keep the cost down and the trouble of setting a jury.

I was called to be interviewed for a jury once and watched another lady in the group being considered. She brought her crochet bag and crocheted throughout the ordeal and didn't pay attention. Needless to say, she wasn't chosen.

I have been chosen twice, and I think it was quite an honor and very interesting.

Re: Federal Jury Duty

ALRATIBA — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 21:46:08 GMT

It's too bad you can't serve. I was on a federal grand jury for a month ... a couple of years ago. It was a fantastic experience.

Last summer ... I was on a state court jury for a week. Again .... interesting experience.

And ... the few extra bucks weren't all that bad!

Re: Federal Jury Duty

BalletBabe — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 21:55:06 GMT

If you are taking medications and cannot drive, your Dr should be able to get you out of it. I had two different Dr's get me out of jury duty because of medications that I am on. Also because I was my husbands only care giver. You should not have a problem. Do it as fast as you can. THey don't give you much time.

Re: Federal Jury Duty

conlt — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 22:01:52 GMT

I have been called twice to Federal Jury. The federal court house is 1 hour from my home. The first time I was able to go. The second time, I asked for an excuse because I am the caregiver of my 88 year old mother and she was in the hospital and my request was refused. I was shocked at that. Luckily, I did not have to travel to the court house that time, just had to call every week x 4 weeks and the jury was never called. I would get a note from my doctor. I did serve on a local jury once and enjoyed it so that was not the problem.

Re: Federal Jury Duty

Mz iMac — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 22:02:22 GMT

I love the State & Federal Special Grand Jury, Grand Jury & all inbetween.

When I retired 16 yrs ago, I put a bug in the Head Jurist ear that I was interested in becoming a permanent juror when needed. The person told me "there is no such thing. You're watching too much crime tv." In my neck of the woods, juries are picked by a bingo lottery system.

Re: Federal Jury Duty

Mz iMac — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 22:12:27 GMT

I forgot to mention that I am always picked!

Re: Federal Jury Duty

3suwm5 — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 22:31:21 GMT

I was sent a local jury duty summons back in June, I called to see if I could change the 'month', I've never had a jury summons for an entire month.

They told me I could have any month in 2016 after June. So I chose a different month that was more convenient for me.

It's close by, so I don't mind -- what I do find inconvenient, you need to be available the entire month.

I did serve once in my life, it was interesting.

Re: Federal Jury Duty

Mj12 — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 23:10:25 GMT

If your doctor won't write a note, then just report when called, and at the earliest opportunity when they call your name, just tell the judge of your medical condition and medications. I'm sure it's fairly common for people to be excused for this.

Re: Federal Jury Duty

Shorty2U — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 00:24:33 GMT

Thanks for the replies. I hope the Dr writes a note and it helps.

Its something, my husband always wanted to go to the local one. He has gotten papers to fill out I don't know how many times. He then calls the night before and his number is never called to go the next day. He always got upset because he could go then. So, because his number never came up, I often said maybe they should take volunteers. Im sure there are many who can and would love to go but don't get called! lol.

Well if I cant get out of it I will have to take a cab (costing 35 dollars) to the bus stop in the nearest city to us (costing I don't know how much more for the bus?) and bus down there and take another cab to the court house, and pray I can walk after that! (I cannot go on long car rides due to severe pain setting in). I haven't been on a vacation in 20 plus years because of my spine issues. (I do go to movies, and out to eat. Even when I went to 1 concert this year I had to get the nerves in my back nuked TO go, but I cannot get that done this soon again.)

I guess? I could use uber but Id rather pay for cabs and buses than ride with some stranger alone. So I hope I get dismissed!

Anyway I will call my Dr tomorrow morning. I only have 10 days to get the papers back.

Re: Federal Jury Duty

Kachina624 — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 00:28:03 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
I forgot to mention that I am always picked!

I've been summoned maybe 10 times over the years and never chosen. My DH was a deputy sheriff and that seems to be the kiss of death, although I'm quite capable of making an impartial decision.

Re: Federal Jury Duty

sunshine45 — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 00:33:09 GMT

i have only been called once for jury duty about 20 years ago or so and all i did was sit there for half a day......then i was dismissed because the case had settled out of court. i have never been called since.

Re: Federal Jury Duty

nana59 — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 00:33:21 GMT

Your doctor should help you.....if not, I'd fire him......and if you have to report, make sure you tell the judge you consider everyone guilty until proven innocent!!!

Re: Federal Jury Duty

Noel7 — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 00:36:46 GMT

@Shorty2U

You must learn to be your own advocate. Present the facts to your doctor just as you have here.

Don't sound plaintive or as if you are asking him for a favor. You have good reason to ask to be excused. In your condition you cannot be counted on to show up every day or sit through the traveling, let alone jury questioning.

You are not asking for a favor, you are stating the facts, remember that when you talk to him.

Good luck!

Re: Federal Jury Duty

mstyrion 1 — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 00:43:15 GMT

I served Federal Grand Jury duty a few years ago. In my state, you served 3 days per month for 18 months. Grand Juries do not hear trials. They hear cases and vote whether to indict or not. Because of this, there isn't the typical voir dire that you go through on regular jury service. Everyone within a number series was picked.

If your state is the same, you should probably call the jury commissioner as soon as possible to ask how you go about getting a medical excuse.

Re: Federal Jury Duty

Mz iMac — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 01:28:40 GMT

@Shorty2U

Hmmmm, makes me wonder if the upcoming Fed trial will be for ~~SEXY~~ "Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino?"

Re: Federal Jury Duty

GCR18 — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 01:41:16 GMT

I would hope the Dr would sign off.

Re: Federal Jury Duty

Shorty2U — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 02:17:28 GMT

Thanks again and I hope the Dr signs too, b.c I go there every 3 months year round and I go to my pain Dr every month or 2 year round. Both Drs know and have all of my MRIs, and records. I know a lot of people just don't want to go. But with me, if I wasn't like this with all these health issues and if my husband wasn't about to get transplant, I'd love to go, I really would. But I don't see how I can so I hope I can get excused.

Re: Federal Jury Duty

itiswhatitis — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 04:40:36 GMT

@Shorty2U wrote:
Ugh!!! I got called for Federal jury duty in Philly. 1.5 or so (almost 2 hours) from where we live. A. I have chronic back pain and take multiple medications. B. I am not to drive (and cant stay in motels like this). C. My husbands about to go for corneal transplant in weeks.

(There is no date on the forms for when jury duty would be if need to go?).

I filled them all out and am going to call my Dr tomorrow to see if he will provide a letter. If not I'm going to have DH drive me to my pain team Friday to see if they will.

Oh Id love to be on jury duty but I cant do it. It would be an extreme hardship, especially to do Federal vs local!

PS I haven't been called for duty since I had cancer almost 7 years ago and couldn't go then to the local one due to back issues and going daily for treatment. But then I had a different Dr. This new Dr wouldn't even sign my paper to get "our own" money back for a concert I could not attend, (that I took insurance out for), so I hope he signs for this or I don't know what I am going to do!

You have not been called to serve on a Jury yet. Periodically people get these forms to keep their pool fresh or whatever reasoning they use for sending them. When you get a call to serve, you will know the place to report, the time and an estimate on how long you will be required to serve. After you've filled out the forms, you might not get called, ever. Then, you may be called immediately. Depends. Worry when you get a Notice to Serve.

Re: Federal Jury Duty

itiswhatitis — Thu, 18 Aug 2016 04:45:38 GMT

@mstyrion 1 wrote:
I served Federal Grand Jury duty a few years ago. In my state, you served 3 days per month for 18 months. Grand Juries do not hear trials. They hear cases and vote whether to indict or not. Because of this, there isn't the typical voir dire that you go through on regular jury service. Everyone within a number series was picked.

If your state is the same, you should probably call the jury commissioner as soon as possible to ask how you go about getting a medical excuse.

@mstyrion 1This is true, but the poster doesn't indicate whether it's for Grand Jury Duty or Regular Jury Duty. Both are done on the Federal/State and local levels. This may be related to just "Jury Duty."