topic Re: I Have Been Summoned in Among Friends

I Have Been Summoned

Icegoddess — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 16:51:31 GMT

A few weeks ago I got a notice that I had been randomly selected for possible jury duty. I had to fill out a form to determine my eligibility. The bar is pretty low. This is for US District court, not our local county court. Not really sure what the difference is as far as the type of cases goes. I didn't relish the idea of having to drive a couple of hours away to serve jury duty.

So, Saturday I got my official summons. It's for petit court, so it's not a grand jury where you would be deciding whether a case had enough evidence to go to trial. The good news is, there is a US District Courthouse locally, about 10 miles from my home. Still, not looking forward to it.

I had to fill out more general info online such as how long I had lived here, whether I had any cases against me, etc. Some of the questions I had already answered the 1st time. Then there were supplemental questions dealing with Covid and whether I wanted to ask for an exemption due to health.

It sounds like instead of all potential jurors showing up on the first day of hearings, I am to call a number on the Friday before to get my instructions and, if I am not called to show up immediately on the first day, I would be on call for the entire week, but from home.

Kinda funny because on the way to the gym this morning the local news on my radio was talking about how the local courts were also beginning to ramp up with a similar process.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

Nightowlz — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 16:55:11 GMT

If they call me to bad not doing this during a Pandemic.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

Icegoddess — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 16:59:58 GMT

I have no excuse. I go to the grocery store and church and even the gym. We go out to eat. I have a singing practice with the other members of our worship service team once a week. If I can do all those things, there's nothing keeping me from serving on a jury.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

kaydee50 — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 17:00:02 GMT

I'm hoping that if I'm ever called again I can use my age as an excuse.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

Sooner — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 17:00:09 GMT

@Nightowlz wrote:
If they call me to bad not doing this during a Pandemic.

@Nightowlz You do know you can be sent to jail for not complying? I hear jail isn't so great in a pandemic either.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

SilleeMee — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 17:02:48 GMT

The courts here have been closed until about two weeks ago. They have resumed jury duty selection but everything inside the big room where everyone goes is different. All the chairs are SD apart and they don't have the same number of people being called in anymore. All things have been scaled down to limit the spread.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

SeaMaiden — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 17:03:28 GMT

I did jury duty a couple of years ago... a week it took as I was chosen to be on a jury. I found it to be a huge waste of my time. I will never do it again... and I would never consider to do it during this pandemic until it is totally over. If I ever get a card in the mail I will throw it away.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

Icegoddess — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 17:08:39 GMT

@Sooner , I don't know @Nightowlz particular situation, but I'm sure she could get excused using one of the Covid questions. They ask if you have an underlying condition or are over 65 and if you are asking to be excused due to that. You can ask for an excuse if you have someone in your household at with fever, unexplained cough, or repiratory problems. Maybe I could use the fact that I have a cat with asthma as an excuse. I consider him family and even bought a Foodi Grill even though I have a perfectly functioning Jenn Aire grill becaue the Foodi would emit less smoke. There's even a generic question Do you have ANY concerns related to Covid-19 that would affect your ability to serve. You do have to explain though.

Personally, I'm not using this panemic as an excuse to withdraw from life and it's responsibilities. If someone is truly afraid and are stahing inside their home out of fear, then I consider that a perfectly acceptable excuse. However, if they are going out and doing other things, then I think it's a cop-out to use Covid as an excuse not to serve. I don't like jury duty, but I'm not going to use a lame excuse to get out of it. Somebody needs to do the job.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

MalteseMomma — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 17:11:54 GMT

Get your dr to write you an excuse.

I have served twice and it was a really fun experience.

Especially when we all went to a great restaurant for lunch.

But when I got called (third time) to the Grand Jury,I resisted because it ment a 2 hr drive back and forth everyday on the NJ turnpike in peak hours.

Not for me. I have anxiety problems!

Re: I Have Been Summoned

KarenQVC — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 17:18:34 GMT

You seem to be the perfect person who can serve. Here we have a top age. I don't know what it is, though.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

Kachina624 — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 17:22:18 GMT

I've been called many times, although I rarely served on a jury because my ex was a law enforcement officer. I've always found the process very interesting and would welcome the opportunity to serve again.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

mspatmac — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 17:42:01 GMT

@Icegoddess wrote:
@Sooner , I don't know @Nightowlz particular situation, but I'm sure she could get excused using one of the Covid questions. They ask if you have an underlying condition or are over 65 and if you are asking to be excused due to that. You can ask for an excuse if you have someone in your household at with fever, unexplained cough, or repiratory problems. Maybe I could use the fact that I have a cat with asthma as an excuse. I consider him family and even bought a Foodi Grill even though I have a perfectly functioning Jenn Aire grill becaue the Foodi would emit less smoke. There's even a generic question Do you have ANY concerns related to Covid-19 that would affect your ability to serve. You do have to explain though.

Personally, I'm not using this panemic as an excuse to withdraw from life and it's responsibilities. If someone is truly afraid and are stahing inside their home out of fear, then I consider that a perfectly acceptable excuse. However, if they are going out and doing other things, then I think it's a cop-out to use Covid as an excuse not to serve. I don't like jury duty, but I'm not going to use a lame excuse to get out of it. Somebody needs to do the job.

@Icegoddess I commend you for your reasoning and your decision to serve.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

Travone — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 18:03:41 GMT

I love jury duty. I find the entire judicial system fascinating.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

Annabellethecat66 — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 18:09:58 GMT

I loved jury duty. I've had jury duty 3 times.

A few months ago (late 2019) I got a form to fill out and I was all ready to go.

But they wanted to know my age (73) and my daughter reminded me that I can't sit in those hard chairs for very long because of my back. Good thing because in March 2020 I broke my back again.

I think we are lucky we live in a country where we are asked to be part of a process that is supposed to be fair and balanced.

My late husband was picked for jury duty 2 times before he died. He enjoyed it too.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

reiki604 — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 18:22:42 GMT

It is your responsibility as a citizen of this country to do your civic duty to serve on a jury. It's not as if they are asking you to put your life on the line to serve your country.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

Snooky60 — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 18:22:11 GMT

@kaydee50 - I'm not sure how it goes elsewhere, but here the cutoff age is 70. I'm not thrilled to be over 70, but sometimes the perks are good. 🤗

Hope it works for you if you get summoned.💗

Re: I Have Been Summoned

beckyb1012 — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 18:22:56 GMT

I get called up about every other year and sometimes yearly for 20+ years now. I work just across the street from our counties courthouse so no trouble for me. Park at my building for work instead of the juror parking a mile away and come back to my desk on lunch and breaks. I would never ever disregard a jury notice it will catch up with you.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

Sooner — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 18:29:56 GMT

@SeaMaiden

@SeaMaiden wrote:
I did jury duty a couple of years ago... a week it took as I was chosen to be on a jury. I found it to be a huge waste of my time. I will never do it again... and I would never consider to do it during this pandemic until it is totally over. If I ever get a card in the mail I will throw it away.

They are not inviting you to lunch. Be careful. The following is from the Oklahoma Bar Association. Don't know about where you live but in my experience the OK courts are a little testy about people not responding:

The Importance of Your Service

You have been summoned to provide an important service as a juror. You enjoy the privileges of citizenship and the protection of your liberties and property by the government. In return, you have a duty as a citizen to participate in a very important aspect of our democracy – jury duty. As a juror, you will serve as an officer of the court for a short time, along with the attorneys and the judge. You will be a part of the judicial system of our state, and your services are as important as those of the judge.

Trial by jury is the foundation of the American judicial system. In a civil case, it is the jury's duty to decide issues of fact in disputes over private rights such as property rights, contract rights and damages for personal injury. In a criminal case, it is the jurors that people rely upon for the protection of life, liberty and property. Jury service is the fulfillment of a civic obligation. Our system of justice will not work without your participation.

Q: I received a summons – what do I have to do?
A: A summons is an official court document sent to you by a court clerk. When you receive a summons, you are REQUIRED to appear at the court described, at the time that is listed on the summons. Failure to report can result in contempt charges and the imposition of a fine and/or community service for the length of the trial on which you would have served.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

Nightowlz — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 18:33:14 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
@Nightowlz wrote:
If they call me to bad not doing this during a Pandemic.

@Nightowlz You do know you can be sent to jail for not complying? I hear jail isn't so great in a pandemic either.

@Sooner

I know that but I'm still not doing it or going to jail.

Re: I Have Been Summoned

Sooner — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 18:36:46 GMT

@Nightowlz wrote:
@Sooner wrote:
@Nightowlz wrote:
If they call me to bad not doing this during a Pandemic.

@Nightowlz You do know you can be sent to jail for not complying? I hear jail isn't so great in a pandemic either.
@Sooner

I know that but I'm still not doing it or going to jail.

@Nightowlz Well anarchy seems to be in vogue now. So fine for you to just ignore the law.