Petit jury duty summons for 14 days - during planned vacation this summer
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Anonymous
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There is no space to ask for an exemption for vacation or travel plans. Additionally, I'm expecting and because my employer is small they offer no paid maternity leave, so I'm saving up my leave for maternity leave (which will probably end up having to be much shorter than three months as it is, due to finances). (my vacation was going to be taken between duty days and was a gift, so not expensive).
I've done jury duty 6 times in my 14 years here in DC, so please don't remind me of my civic duty - with each time I do it I get more and more convinced that we need a volunteer jury system and this compulsory bullshit is for the birds. I'm filled with resentment and I'm really upset. This is a real burden. I understand I can REQUEST a deferral but I won't know until 10 days before the service is supposed to start - how am I supposed to plan around that? If I don't cancel now, we'll lose all of our deposits, but this will literally be my only chance to go somewhere this summer. On the other hand, I'm worried that if I do defer somehow, they'll call me back when I have a small child and force me to use their childcare or something. (The last time I was called, I had an 18 month old, and the fact that I was working part time to spend time with my child was NOT allowed as an excuse - I was told to come or else. 
What can I do? Is deferring just basically asking for jury duty when I have a tiny baby? Or can you defer within a certain period of time, like say, just put it off for two months? Any lawyers on these boards know of any realistic proposals for jury duty reform? Why don't these go anywhere - is it because elected officials are exempt? |
Anonymous
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That SUCKS.
Fwiw I once submitted a change-of-address back to my other address out of county. That works if you have another residence. If not, you usually can defer it once. That being said, taking care of your kids is not a valid excuse. |
Anonymous
| Trial lawyer here. Sorry to say I would NOT be comfortable with a volunteer jury system. (And I'm not aware of any legitimate suggestion to move in that direction.) A jury full of retired and unemployed people is not exactly a fair cross-section of the population, and certainly not a "jury of peers" of many who are accused. I get that your vacation is important, but so are your Constitutional rights. Do your best to defer, but I wouldn't hold your breath that the system is going to change anytime soon. |
Anonymous
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I'm a teacher. Whenever I've been called in DC they ask me to pick a date to reschedule and I move it to spring break or whenever. Maybe call and ask if you can do the same thing?
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Anonymous
I'm a SAHM and totally agree. A volunteer jury system wouldn't work; everyone would opt out except for people looking for a quick buck in juror compensation. I imagine the jury being hasty to reach conclusion so they could go back into the pool to be called again. |
Anonymous
| OP while I have some sympathy for you serving so many times I don't think it's unfair. DC has a relatively small group of people to choose from and that's why you've been called so many times. If you don't like it surely you know that moving to VA or MD might fix that. Vacation is the last thing I'd excuse a juror for. I know it sucks but we need a system that works and this is just a part of it. I do hope that you can reschedule your vacation and don't lose any money. |
Anonymous
| I would defer for a time toward the end of you maternity leave. I have pumped during jury duty before - you'll survive. |
Anonymous
| I've always found that getting a delay isn't that hard. Try calling |
Anonymous
| When I have deferred, they let me choose the new date (for instance, I moved it to a time that family could be in touch to watch my child. Good luck. |
takoma
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I have served a lot, and found the staff helpful. I second the idea of calling. |
Anonymous
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Call for a delay. If its in the middle of maternity leave,clay it's fine. When they call you then, tell them you are a nursing mom. They defer you again.
But why is it for 14 days? Is this regular jury service , or a different court? In any case, planned vacation is an acceptable reason for deferral. |
Anonymous
| D.C. trial lawyer here -- I can't speak to proposals for reform, but I'm pretty sure that if you call the jury office now and tell them you have non-refundable plane tickets, you can defer and select a new date. (It will be up to you whether you think its worse to defer when you have an infant. A judge won't usually excuse jurors for child care issues.) But at least you will know without having to cancel your vacation or wait until the last minute. Good luck! |
Anonymous
| No advice, just sympathy. I've never been called for jury duty and neither has my husband. Our kids are older now so it wouldn't be a hardship to serve. Wish I could volunteer in your place! |
Anonymous
Who do you find to watch your newborn infant for 14 days?? Wouldn't that be really expensive, a short term sitter for 14 days for a newborn? Or is her spouse supposed to take 14 days off to watch the baby? |
Anonymous
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Write a letter to the jury administrator (whoever's name is on the summons). Explain your situation, and suggest a time that would be better for you.
This far in advance, they ought to accommodate you. But you'd better plan to show up at the time you suggest, and not defer again. This worked easily for me in MoCo. No idea if DC is as reasonable. I'd hope they would be. |