Summoned for Jury Duty - New SAHM

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately tons of people have really good excuses. If I do not work I will not get paid and my kids will not eat. i am a brain surgeon. People will die!, My baby needs me.

They can not excuse everyone that has kids or works.

Hopefully you will call the night before and they will tell you not to come.

Yep so true. I have a lot of sympathy for people who work minimum wage and whose jobs may be at risk if they take off, even for jury duty. But even single parents who are making minimum wage and not getting child support are not being excused from jury duty. For the rest of us, it’s an inconvenience not a real hardship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always honestly answer that I trust cops more than normal people. Gets me out every time. Serving on a jury is a choice. One I'll happily make when I'm retired. Or have extra tie on my hands. Til then nah.

You'll serve if a judge says you will. I hope you get on a sequestered jury for three months soon.

[Anonymous]

In DC, everytime I was summoned when I was at home with young children, I called and said that I am the lone caregiver and have drop off and pick up from school that interferes with the jury duty time. They excused me everytime. Probabaly did this 4 times over the course of 7 years. I was happy to serve once my kids were old enough to get themselves home from school or husband could pick up. You are wasy overreacting OP.

[Anonymous]

I just served last month and I will share what I observed.

Women who said they were nursing were excused.

Women who simply said they couldn't serve b/c they were the primary childcare parent were lectured by the judge about civic duty and asked over and over "and so there is no one else who can watch your children?" And also questioned on why the other parent couldn't step up to parent.

Perhaps it was just a picky judge, but yeah, if you can swing it, say you're nursing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just served last month and I will share what I observed.

Women who said they were nursing were excused.

Women who simply said they couldn't serve b/c they were the primary childcare parent were lectured by the judge about civic duty and asked over and over "and so there is no one else who can watch your children?" And also questioned on why the other parent couldn't step up to parent.

Perhaps it was just a picky judge, but yeah, if you can swing it, say you're nursing.

My husband bills by the hour. If he has to not work because I am at jury duty he loses a lot of money. It’s not a reasonable ask. Like a pp said, I’ll go when my kids can watch themselves. Thankfully I’m in VA which seems more lenient. My husband is a lawyer so he never gets called.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I quit my job to be a full-time mom and on my last day of work I received my summons for jury duty in DC. I happily served on a jury five years ago when I was pregnant, but this time I’m really upset about it. What do other stay at home moms do when they get called for jury duty, especially when the spouse has no flexibility at work (literally the reason I quit work)? I have a one year-old and four year-old. Four year-old needs to get to and from school each day. With my luck, I’m certain to get stuck on a month’s long trial.

Do I ask my nanny to come back and possibly shell out thousands of dollars? Fly in elderly parents to try to help? See if my husband can take vacation? Any ideas are appreciated!

Write your concerns. You'll likely get out of it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you really have no babysitter you could ask? What would you do if you needed to go to a medical appointment? If you explain during voir dire that you are the primary childcare provider they should excuse you.

I always brought my kids to appointments. In a stroller with toys or an iPad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just served last month and I will share what I observed.

Women who said they were nursing were excused.

Women who simply said they couldn't serve b/c they were the primary childcare parent were lectured by the judge about civic duty and asked over and over "and so there is no one else who can watch your children?" And also questioned on why the other parent couldn't step up to parent.

Perhaps it was just a picky judge, but yeah, if you can swing it, say you're nursing.

My husband bills by the hour. If he has to not work because I am at jury duty he loses a lot of money. It’s not a reasonable ask. Like a pp said, I’ll go when my kids can watch themselves. Thankfully I’m in VA which seems more lenient. My husband is a lawyer so he never gets called.

Everyone loses money to serve. That seems like a very non-legitimate excuse...my husband would lose more money than the average person because he is a high paid attorney!

[Anonymous]

bring the kids. it will be one sucky day if that, but they will send you home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do you really have no babysitter you could ask? What would you do if you needed to go to a medical appointment? If you explain during voir dire that you are the primary childcare provider they should excuse you.

You get $50 for jury duty. It costs much more for a babysitter. It's not a fair ask of SAMP.

Yes, we can have our nanny come for $26/hour and $39/hour for overtime...plus employer taxes. That's $325+ per day if I'm there 8 am - 5 pm plus commuting time, not to mention paying for parking/Uber because I don't feel safe walking to/riding the metro in the morning anymore. I checked, and they do have onsite provided childcare for children 2.5 and up who are potty trained, but we wouldn't be qualified for that. I also don't have anyone to drive my son to school and pick him up, though I could probably burden another parent to help in a pinch.

I understand that jury service isn't convenient for anyone; I just didn't realize that it is extra difficult as a stay at home parent.

You have a regular nanny. Not comparable. We have never used child care or a babysitter. You are clearly pretty comfortable. I quit as with a masters degree my entire income would have gone to day care for one.

[Anonymous]

I’m in VA, but I just called and told them that I was a SAHM to children under age 3, and they excused me and never bothered me again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC has a child care center in the superior courthouse. I don't think "my child will be traumatized by staying with the court's staff" is going to go over well. You can ask, but you may have to go in. If you don't want the court child care, you'd need to find someone else to watch your kids. I have a feeling you'll be dismissed though--both sides want jurors who are not distracted or grumpy.

+1 to all this

I served on a jury recently and it was a huge childcare hassle. I'm not a SAHM but I WFH and normally pick my kid up from school at 3. My DH was able to take the afternoon off on the day of my service, but then I wound up on a jury for 4 days and DH was leaving down for work, and we couldn't get into aftercare on short notice, so we hired a sitter. It was annoying to do on short notice and hard to set it up with the school to have the sitter do pickup on the fly.

But as the judge in my case explained, "I have to work" or "I have a kid" are not exceptional hardships. That describes most people. In order to have juries at all, people have to be willing to deal with his imposition. You just suck it up and then it's over -- you aren't special, this is what everyone must do.

If you cannot afford child care it is an excuse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our country just doesn't know what to do with parents. It is such an unfriendly country for parenting.

OMG! What claptrap. People like you are selfish, entitled jerks. Parents are not special. I have served on two juries and, yes, paid for a sitter. It is the price you pay for freedom.

Must be nice to be rich enough to pay for a sitter and not think twice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just served last month and I will share what I observed.

Women who said they were nursing were excused.

Women who simply said they couldn't serve b/c they were the primary childcare parent were lectured by the judge about civic duty and asked over and over "and so there is no one else who can watch your children?" And also questioned on why the other parent couldn't step up to parent.

Perhaps it was just a picky judge, but yeah, if you can swing it, say you're nursing.

My husband bills by the hour. If he has to not work because I am at jury duty he loses a lot of money. It’s not a reasonable ask. Like a pp said, I’ll go when my kids can watch themselves. Thankfully I’m in VA which seems more lenient. My husband is a lawyer so he never gets called.

Everyone loses money to serve. That seems like a very non-legitimate excuse...my husband would lose more money than the average person because he is a high paid attorney!

The difference is you can afford to pay for child care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I always honestly answer that I trust cops more than normal people. Gets me out every time. Serving on a jury is a choice. One I'll happily make when I'm retired. Or have extra tie on my hands. Til then nah.

Spouses recently was dismissed for having police officers in the family.