Help! Jury duty and sitter just canceled
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Anonymous
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I have jury duty tomorrow, my sitter just had an emergency and has to cancel. My husband can’t miss a morning meeting, but can get the kids by 10am; he works near the courthouse. I have to appear there at the exact same time the jury duty office opens in the morning. No, there’s no option to leave a message. I’ve tried calling every number I can find.
Do I bring my kids? They are 8 and 10. My plan was to just bring them, find a little corner vestibule or whatever where they can sit and wait, tell DH where they are to pick them up, then head to the juror room, or whatever it’s called. I have no clue what to do and can find no after-hours assistance. I don’t want to just not show up or to show up at 10am. |
Anonymous
| Yes, just bring them. |
Anonymous
| Bring them, explain the situation and they may release you. |
Anonymous
Yes. They will see you did your best. |
Anonymous
| PP’s above. I spoke with an attorney friend who believes they could find me in contempt if I do this because it’s a common excuse to get out of JD, particularly in the summer when school isn’t in session. But maybe she is just looking out for me in a worst-case scenario? |
Anonymous
| No way, of course you bring your kids. Jury duty shouldn't cost you money. |
Anonymous
| Check because they often tell you the night before or morning of that you don’t have to come. |
Anonymous
| One of your teeth were sick? What would you and your husband do? |
Anonymous
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Bring them.
I once forgot about federal court jury duty because I was 21 and my car was in the shop and I had to pick it up that day. They called to ask why I wasn't there and told me to just come downtown late. I still got sent in for two possible trials. The only other time I got called I sat in a room in the Rockville courthouse for 5 hours and didn't get put on a jury. I think it will be fine if the kids sit there. |
Anonymous
| PP. Also, you might be allowed to bring them in the mass juror waiting room. That would be better than leaving them in the hall. Police/guards might not like that. |
Anonymous
| Just remember that you can’t bring your phone in so your husband won’t be able to contact you on his timing. |
Anonymous
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Just bring the kids.
The worst that will happen is they reschedule you. |
Anonymous
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Are you a lawyer? If not I would not really worry about consequences. So many people skip jury duty. What are they going to do? What if you gut really sick or had a family emergency? Car broke down in an area with no public transport? Think of how many totally dysfunctional people there are, they have not all been thrown in jail for skipping jury duty.
Or just show up at 10am.when you can swap kids with the parents. |
Anonymous
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If this is in DC you might be able to use their child care center. I have not used it but have seen the information.
http://www.dccourts.gov/childcare VA and MD will likely have something similar. |
Anonymous
| I think your plan sounds fine, but another thought is— can the kids just go to work with your husband? At those ages they should be able to read quietly in the hall or something during his meeting. |