General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJury Duty
Well, I just got a notice to appear for jury duty on July 27. In any normal year, I'd be happy to do my civic duty, but this year is just not one of those years. I really don't want to go and I fall in a few of the 'at risk' categories. Which means I'll have to get a dr's note to get out of it (which I intend to do). I'm in California.
Anyone else get a notice for jury duty?
SoCalNative
(4,613 posts)In my county you can.
shanti
(21,675 posts)the doctor's note is for. You have to have a pretty good excuse, and health is the only one I remotely qualifiy for. I'm thinking they're sending out a ton of notices and people are declining. My worst fear is being called up for the De Angelo or Manteuffel trials.
SoCalNative
(4,613 posts)you can automatically just register online and postpone for 3 or 6 months, no excuse needed. But you can only do it once then you have to go unless you have a Dr note or some such.
sweetloukillbot
(11,151 posts)Maybe check if they will actually be holding trials?
shanti
(21,675 posts)opened up on June 22.
sweetloukillbot
(11,151 posts)Well, the way things are going it may change again in the next few weeks :-/
ProfessorGAC
(65,391 posts)Just as the pandemic started to boil.
I was on a jury, T, W, Th. The state shut all nonessential biz & courthouses, that Friday.
2.5 days with 13 other people in a 9x18 room!
I was pretty nervous for 10 days, especially since I subbed that Friday. But, no issues.
I'm not aware whether Illinois has resumed jury trials yet, though.
So, I did jury duty during this time, but very early on.
I read nothing about major outbreaks connected to the courthouse. And this is a big county with many, many cases and a couple hundred deaths.
Might have dodged a bullet.
I'm in a big county too (~1.4 million) which some high profile rape/murder cases on the docket. AND my county is having a big outbreak now. It would also require public transportation to and from downtown, where the courthouse is, as I'm in the 'burbs. Has me kind of shaky.
ProfessorGAC
(65,391 posts)I live in the fringes, so car was the only option.
I'd be nervous about mass transit too.
Brainfodder
(6,423 posts)If concerned, call them and inquire, I have had 4 jury summons in 17 years in Nevada, and never had to report, my wife had the same and reported 1 time.
So that's 7 of 8 no report.
Good luck!
LeftInTX
(25,772 posts)Wounded Bear
(58,774 posts)right in line with the Impeachment trial with similar outcome.
Basically we let what I felt was a child molester walk because of one guy whose "reasonable doubt" threshold was somewhat higher than the rest of us. Oh well.
brewens
(13,660 posts)They get me almost every year, except for the two times I actually got picked.
I'm normally happy to do it, especially now that I'm retired. If they knew my attitude toward law enforcement and the legal system, I'd be banned if they could. Like you, I would get my doctor to get me out of it if picked. I'm in Idaho, so I'd be lucky if there were no more than sixty percent of prospected jurors called up with me that didn't flagrantly disregard taking any precautions. No thanks.
lpbk2713
(42,774 posts)It did for me about a year ago.
solara
(3,836 posts)So, I have appealed to my Dr. I am definitely in the 'at risk' category for several reasons. I sure hope the Dr. is amenable.
I know they still have to do the court thing, but I don't get why I keep getting called and many of my friends have never been called. Isn't it just based on voter registration?
Anyway, good luck to you
Bayard
(22,228 posts)I got them way too often too. Found out they have to draw a certain amount of people from each area in the county.
The first year, I thought--I'll go for the first session, and get out of it based on being a self-employed, one person show, business owner. No work, no money. The judge did not find that a compelling argument.
From then on, I just got my doctor to write a letter. There was plenty of ammo.
displacedtexan
(15,696 posts)So now it's over for the year.