Jury duty summons - four days before I leave for my cruise....

[Anonymous]

Walk me back from the ledge here. I'm heading into the Fairfax County Courthouse on Wednesday as part of the initial call of potential jurors. I leave for my seven-day cruise on Sunday. What are the chances that I will get called as an actual juror? Does it fly if I tell them that I'm already booked for my cruise? I would normally be happy to participate, but this timing just couldn't be worse. Help!

[Anonymous]

I had this happen once and I explained that I couldn't do it. However next time I was called - I was number 1 on the list and got put on a jury. Isn't there a way you can defer without going in? I feel like i just filled something out and sent it in - I am in Maryland though.

[Anonymous]

Call and get your summons rescheduled. I got a summons a couple of weeks before my trip to Barcelon, and they have me a date after my trip.

[Anonymous]

I think the vast majority of trials are less than three days. My Fairfax jury duty lasted four hours.

[Anonymous]

Call them immediately - I got called for jury duty during the time when I was going to be out of town for the Christmas holiday. I already had non-refundable flights. They said they'd remove me and put me back in the pool.

[Anonymous]

You can reschedule your FCPS jury duty date online. I was supposed to be there today, but had to visit family abroad, so I rescheduled it for a few weeks after I come back. They sent me a new summons form with my selected date about a week after I rescheduled online. Super easy.

[Anonymous]

In another state I got schedule during a time I would be on work trip. I called and they asked for proof and I provided the plane ticket information. This happens all the time. They should just reschedule you.

[Anonymous]

Call and reschedule.

[Anonymous]

Go, and when they do voir dire for an actual trial, you tell them that you can't sit on a jury because of your nonrefundable cruise tickets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go, and when they do voir dire for an actual trial, you tell them that you can't sit on a jury because of your nonrefundable cruise tickets.

+1 You will likely be dismissed and/or called again at a later time.

[Anonymous]

Um, did you read your notice? They make it super easy to reschedule to a day that works better for you. I was called when it was the first 3 months at a new job - I went online and rescheduled and it was NBD. Showed up for jury duty on my new date and sat there for the morning. The trial I was supposed to be on settled at the last minute, so we were all excused at lunch time. Easy peasy. If it's too late to reschedule, then I would still go and serve.

[Anonymous]

Another one here for whom it was no big deal to switch. I had nonrefundable travel planned too, and they excused me from that round.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Go, and when they do voir dire for an actual trial, you tell them that you can't sit on a jury because of your nonrefundable cruise tickets.

Or, do as my neighbor did, and during voir dire, give an answer that is sure to get you dismissed as being a juror.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Go, and when they do voir dire for an actual trial, you tell them that you can't sit on a jury because of your nonrefundable cruise tickets.

Or, do as my neighbor did, and during voir dire, give an answer that is sure to get you dismissed as being a juror.

OP already has that answer. It is "I have non-refundable cruise tickets and I'm leaving on Sunday".

[Anonymous]

You'll be dismissed, don't worry. DH was on a murder trial and it lasted longer than scheduled and he was replaced with an alternate. Judge was mad, but he had said upfront we had the tix and were going.