Summoned for Jury Duty - New SAHM

[Anonymous]

My dad served on a special jury that met once a month for over a year. Suck it up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:See if you can recall the nanny - or one of nanny’s friends - for the duration. It won’t last long.

DP. I'm all about civic duty and not being a shirker, but I would refuse to pay out of pocket for childcare for jury duty. If the city would like to reimburse me, we can discuss it.

I would also not be leaving a 1 year old, who is likely barely verbal, at a day care I know nothing about. Full-time caregiver to children under 5 is a perfectly legitimate reason to be excused.

[Anonymous]

I would feel privileged to serve on a jury, but I'm a lawyer.
It's part of living in a free society.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I still get out of it saying I’m the primary caregiver. My youngest is 12. Hasn’t ever been a problem.

Same but I am in VA. Sounds like DC is a lot more difficult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. Thanks to some of you for the good advice and insights. I'm going to take my chances and hope that I'm in and out of there in one day. Former nanny is available to baby-sit, my husband can drop my son off at school early, and a classmate's parent can pick him up. I bought a refundable plane ticket for my MIL to come in if needed for an extended period of time.

I'm still in disbelief that I was summoned on my last day of work, when I quit (after carefully weighing the financial sacrifice) to make our lives less stressful. Yes, I realize we are still very fortunate but appreciate the empathy from those who have been in my shoes. Sometimes you have to laugh when stuff like this happens.

Well that was dumb. Your life is about to get more stressful in other ways.

[Anonymous]

The last time i went to jury duty, we sat there for two hours and then were sent home because they settled. Just go get it over with. I haven't been called again in years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

It is not “extra difficult “, take away the nanny, the money to even consider a nanny and add a job outside the home. Difficult ++. And I notified DC of my situation as a sole parent and was excused. Not with any added excuses, just with the facts. Prior to this year I always showed up, every time, no excuse and was happy to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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.

I mean, part of your dilemma is that your husband cannot/will not pick up any slack for you and your family. I get it bc I am also a SAHM with a husband with an inflexible job. But you having to pay for the nanny and ask another parent to pick up your kid from preschool is 100 percent an extra issue because your husband can’t or won’t pitch in for a day.

Have your husband identify a week when he can take off in advance, and sign up for that week. Or understand that you're paying for childcare so your husband can work. Which is what most working parents do.

Working parents get a paycheck. Op won’t be getting a paycheck— for many people, paying for temporary childcare (which is more expensive than regular consistent childcare) is not possible financially.

Many working parents don't get a paycheck during jury duty, and still pay for childcare. OP's temporary childcare is the same cost as the regular childcare she chose last week. It's not expensive because it's temporary, it's expensive because she chose expensive childcare.

[Anonymous]

Regarding jury duty. I just summoned for federal and county in the same month. Will they excuse me from one of them? Is there a better one to get excused from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell them you like crack

Underrated idea