Jury duty question

[Payday12]

Just got a letter saying I have to show up for jury duty on 9/18 17. My question is, is there a way to get out of it? The main reason is we have reservations in a motel in Columbus, Ohio on 9/17 thru 9/19. Called the motel and they said if we cancel we will only get half our deposit back. Plus that is when my wife is on vacation so we can't really change the date.

So anyone know if I can get out of it without getting in trouble.

Thanks for any information.

[Yoda]

I think there should be details on the summons itself explaining the circumstances under which you can avoid it.

[Dani8]

I wouldnt think that's a way of getting out of it, and as Yoda said there should be a list on the back of exceptions, but if I were you I would call the sheriff's office or whoever deals with juries over your way, and ask for a letter from the dept explaining that the hotel cannot refuse your deposit for cancelling due to jury duty. I would think that is unlawful.

[Miss Vicky]

Jury duty rules vary by state, so you'd have to look into what your state allows. In my state you can send in a postponement form requesting to reschedule for another date, but that's about all you can do short of going in on your assigned date and claiming a hardship.

[Captain Steel]

Go to the website (should be listed on your summons) and request a postponement (or whatever they call it).

Since honesty is the best policy explain your situation if they provide you an area to do so (or choose the best applicable excuse they provide for requesting a postponement).

There's no guarantee they'll honor it, but it's worth the try. They are more apt to grant a postponement than a total excusal.

Some people try a medical excuse, but find it backfires if the court requests proof.
A sure fire excusal is for age as they can check that instantly, but it makes me wonder why they continue to send out summonses when they know people are over the age limit (unless maybe they count on older folks who qualify for excusal, but wish to serve anyway).

If for any reason you don't hear back regarding the postponement and time begins to run short, try to contact them...

I had one experience where I requested postponement, but never got a response saying it was granted or denied.
So I changed all my plans just for jury duty, showed up, and THEN was told that I didn't need to be there as I'd been granted the postponement! Since I'd altered all my plans anyway, I served for the day and asked that it be put on the record that I fulfilled my service requirement that day as opposed to the day they put me down for postponement (but never told me about). Needless to say, I was pretty furious.

[Dannii]

Just got a letter saying I have to show up for jury duty on 9/18 17. My question is, is there a way to get out of it? The main reason is we have reservations in a motel in Columbus, Ohio on 9/17 thru 9/19. Called the motel and they said if we cancel we will only get half our deposit back. Plus that is when my wife is on vacation so we can't really change the date.

So anyone know if I can get out of it without getting in trouble.

Thanks for any information.
I avoided it twice with mum being a solicitor, i was told she could influence me. In this country we can get it delayed,maybe if we have a holiday planned, or a trip, so it may be similar for you, show proof though, that's the first thing you will be asked to produce.

[Payday12]

Thanks to all who responded. I called the motel again to told them why I might be canceling our stay and they were very understanding and said if we do cancel they would refund all the money for the deposit we made.

[Dani8]

I avoided it twice with mum being a solicitor, i was told she could influence me.

I dont think we can where I am. Only if you're married to someone from exempt professions. I;ve been called up once and really wanted to go but was exempt, which I was aware of, so couldnt even turn up to get paid or a free lunch.

[Captain Steel]

I dont think we can where I am. Only if you're married to someone from exempt professions. I;ve been called up once and really wanted to go but was exempt, which I was aware of, so couldnt even turn up to get paid or a free lunch.

Those kind of exemptions (in the U.S. anyway) are usually only granted during the courtroom jury selection - as potential jurors are asked if they have any relatives who are cops, politicians, related to the case, etc. But, as far as I know, they are not on the list of exemptions considered when requesting an excusal from the summons to serve itself.

[Dannii]

I avoided it twice with mum being a solicitor, i was told she could influence me.

I dont think we can where I am. Only if you're married to someone from exempt professions. I;ve been called up once and really wanted to go but was exempt, which I was aware of, so couldnt even turn up to get paid or a free lunch.
I was 21 then 25 when i was called up, i still had to fill out the forms for the elimination process, they couldn't excuse me quick enough! Haha.

[Dani8]

I was 21 then 25 when i was called up, i still had to fill out the forms for the elimination process, they couldn't excuse me quick enough! Haha.

Yeah they will excuse you by mail, here anyway, very quickly if it saves them money, and rightly so, otherwise everyone exempt would just turn up for the $. Mr D told me to go for the money LMAO. Yeah honey, have you ever known me to act like a criminal for some doll hairs and a sandwich?

[Dannii]

I was 21 then 25 when i was called up, i still had to fill out the forms for the elimination process, they couldn't excuse me quick enough! Haha.

Yeah they will excuse you by mail, here anyway, very quickly if it saves them money, and rightly so, otherwise everyone exempt would just turn up for the $. Mr D told me to go for the money LMAO. Yeah honey, have you ever known me to act like a criminal for some doll hairs and a sandwich?
Mum told me that people on jury service here get a plastic card which has an allowance on to buy meals, and the jurors who are in employment recieve the equivalent to their wages if their employer won't pay them during service, travel costs get covered too, so jurors aren't really quids in, just paid as normal🙈

[Captain Steel]

Mum told me that people on jury service here get a plastic card which has an allowance on to buy meals, and the jurors who are in employment recieve the equivalent to their wages if their employer won't pay them during service, travel costs get covered too, so jurors aren't really quids in, just paid as normal🙈

In NJ, it's $5.00 per day for pay, AND (but wait, that's not all you get...) they'll validate your parking which is huge because parking in a deck for 8 hours could cost well over $30.00!

[Dani8]

Mum told me that people on jury service here get a plastic card which has an allowance on to buy meals, and the jurors who are in employment recieve the equivalent to their wages if their employer won't pay them during service, travel costs get covered too, so jurors aren't really quids in, just paid as normal🙈

There's a set fee here. The only jurors who dont get paid are public servants because they still get paid anyway. Not sure if they do the cards here unless there's a cafeteria in the court which a lot dont have. They're not allowed to leave to buy food or booze.
I think they should get a bus and round up all the homeless in the cities. Atleast that way they get a decent meal and some money.

[Dannii]

Mum told me that people on jury service here get a plastic card which has an allowance on to buy meals, and the jurors who are in employment recieve the equivalent to their wages if their employer won't pay them during service, travel costs get covered too, so jurors aren't really quids in, just paid as normal🙈

In NJ, it's $5.00 per day for pay, AND (but wait, that's not all you get...) they'll validate your parking which is huge because parking in a deck for 8 hours could cost well over $30.00!
There's a Crown Court a few miles from me and it's opposite a Travel Lodge, jurors are allowed to use their carpark at reduced rates, i've dropped mum off at the court a few times and the jurors cars are away from the main entrance to the hotel, it stands out who's a guest and who's doing jury service.

[Payday12]

When I started this board I had only read the first page. It goes on to say if you don't fill out the questionnaire and show up you will be fined and get jail time. Later in the letter it says to call the day before and a recording will tell you if you even need to show up. In my case that don't help. I will still have to cancel our plans. It also says to bring your own money for food.

[Dani8]

I will still have to cancel our plans. It also says to bring your own money for food.


OMG. How cheap. What's the daily rate? Here it's 106 - 243 depending on juror's circumstances plus food and transport. Hotel rooms and room service in the event of a hung jury.

Still, I think your best bet is just to ring up, sooner rather than later.

[Captain Steel]

When I started this board I had only read the first page. It goes on to say if you don't fill out the questionnaire and show up you will be fined and get jail time. Later in the letter it says to call the day before and a recording will tell you if you even need to show up. In my case that don't help. I will still have to cancel our plans. It also says to bring your own money for food.

Right. Either on the summons or on the court's web site there should be somewhere to request a postponement. That's what you need to fill out in addition to the questionnaire. If it's not on the paper summons go to the website.

As far as the threat, I don't know for sure, but I never heard of anyone actually getting jail time for not showing up (fines seem much more feasible as making money is one of the primary goals.)

I'm not recommending this, but just saying I've heard some people say they've ignored jury summonses and never heard about it again as the courts are too overwhelmed to act on every case of jurors not showing up - but that's a risky assumption to act upon.

The calling the day before is standard. For my last summons, my number wasn't on the list when I called so I didn't have to go. But, as you said, that potential doesn't help anyone with preexisting plans.

And yeah, don't know about other states, but in mine they don't buy you lunch or provide food. They send the $5.00 per day pay to you in a check that you get in the mail a couple weeks after.

[mark f]

What court, city and/or county and state is the summons for?

[Payday12]

What court, city and/or county and state is the summons for?

State of Ohio in the city of Lisbon, Ohio.

[mark f]

Their website isn't too helpful. From what I can tell, you can request a postponement by sending in the questionnaire - where I live you can do all this online. Tell them what you told us and do it ASAP so you can get a quick answer. Also be aware that unless they pick you the first day, you'll have to call once or twice each day for a week to find out if they need you later that day or the next one. The last time my wife got call-in jury service, when the days came, she forgot all about calling them. We never heard from them again.

[cricket]

Jury duty rules vary by state, so you'd have to look into what your state allows. In my state you can send in a postponement form requesting to reschedule for another date, but that's about all you can do short of going in on your assigned date and claiming a hardship.

I got the postponement date.

[cat_sidhe]

What happens if you don't show up? Jail? A fine? Just curious.

[Stirchley]

What happens if you don't show up? Jail? A fine? Just curious.

A bench warrant is issued. More than one & jail could be in the offing.