Failure to Respond to Jury Summons

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I just got the "Failure to Respond to Jury Summons" letter. I was in school for nursing at the time I got the letter for jury duty and didn't go. I didn't even have the TIME to go. But I don't think they'll understand that I had two days of clinical, one full day of lecture and one day of lab each week; and that missing even one day could result in me being behind on material that I needed to know... anyway, has anyone experienced this while in college for nursing?

Specializes in COS-C, Risk Management.
PS my daughter just got a post-ponement for of all things "breast feeding".

Why the "of all things?" Breast feeding and being the primary caregiver for an infant/child is a valid excuse from jury duty. I would think that you would be proud of your daughter for what she is doing for your grandchild. As a breastfeeding mom, this struck a nerve with me.

You were lucky.

In my state, if you don't show up for jury duty they send the sheriff out to pick you up and bring you to jury duty.

Specializes in LTC.
Why the "of all things?" Breast feeding and being the primary caregiver for an infant/child is a valid excuse from jury duty. I would think that you would be proud of your daughter for what she is doing for your grandchild. As a breastfeeding mom, this struck a nerve with me.

I felt the same way, but thought maybe I was just being too sensitive. Glad I'm not the only one.

I can see a potential problem. You blew off a jury duty summons. In spite of ignorance, it is well known people should not completely blow off a request from the government. I am not sure school is a good excuse to simply not respond to a jury duty summons. I hope it works out for you, but there is a very important lesson learned here.

Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg, ED, Psych.

Perhaps its just me, but I think Jury Duty is a waste of time. I am not interested in the least in the justice system and I don't feel as though US citizens should be required to complete there "Civic Duty".

Speaking on Jury duty - I have it on Monday...and I did not inform my boss!

Specializes in Hospice, corrections, psychiatry, rehab, LTC.
Ignoring a summons to jury duty is punishable in many if not most states by criminal charges and jail time. If I were you, I'd call authorities immediately to find out what you can do to mitigate the circumstances.

In one jurisdiction where I once lived, when I appeared for jury duty they informed us that had we not answered the summons a deputy sheriff would have come to our homes to arrest us. That is why I replied quickly when I got a forwarded summons from them after I relocated, so that the new residents of my former apartment wouldn't get a knock on the door by a deputy sheriff.

You simply do not ignore a court subpoena.

Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, educator.
Perhaps its just me, but I think Jury Duty is a waste of time. I am not interested in the least in the justice system and I don't feel as though US citizens should be required to complete there "Civic Duty".

Speaking on Jury duty - I have it on Monday...and I did not inform my boss!

Like some other things that aren't fun, it's the price of freedom..........Hope your boss isn't too ticked off!

Specializes in Psychiatry.
And now I have interviews lined up and I'm a new grad so my chances at hire are slim to begin with. I am going to be upset if I have to reschedule or possibly cancel any interviews because I have to serve mandated jury duty as a result of non-compliance.

Oh well... Everyone is busy at any given time in their lives.

Just ask any panel of jurors serving in the United States... I'm sure many of them have child care issues, sick family members to attend to, travel plans, lack of transportation, demanding occupations etc. And the list goes on.

Let's face it, "life" is busy for everyone, not just you!!!

I'm sorry, but you don't have my sympathy. Been there, done that, as many others have. It's your civic duty.

Best to you,

Diane

Specializes in Psychiatry.
I don't feel as though US citizens should be required to complete there "Civic Duty".

!

If American citizens don't serve as jurors, who do you think should?

Just curious, please enlighten me.

Specializes in Mental Health Nursing.
I'm sorry, but you don't have my sympathy. Been there, done that, as many others have. It's your civic duty.

I didn't ask for anyone's sympathy...

I skipped out on jury duty, I'm not denying that, but I'm asking if any of the consequences from this can end up on my record, preventing me from getting certain jobs as a nurse??

I'm guessing this is a YES since an earlier poster said criminal charges is a possibility...

Specializes in Psychiatry.

I didn't ask for anyone's sympathy...

I skipped out on jury duty, I'm not denying that, but I'm asking if any of the consequences from this can end up on my record, preventing me from getting certain jobs as a nurse??

I'm guessing this is a YES since an earlier poster said criminal charges is a possibility...

I am hoping criminal charges are NOT a possibility for you! I hope you can get this cleared up, serve on jury duty, and not have a negative fallout affecting your future career. I would call first thing Monday morning and see what you need to do to rectify it.

Best to you,

Diane

Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

"Originally Posted by abbaking viewpost.gif

"Perhaps its just me, but I think Jury Duty is a waste of time. I am not interested in the least in the justice system and I don't feel as though US citizens should be required to complete there "Civic Duty
".

Wow. I'm stunned. Out of curiosity, did you sleep through all of your American History classes? How do you think you came to live freely in this country?

Also out of curiosity (in case you can't tell, I'm fascinated by your thought process), if you were accused of a serious crime, who would you like to have sitting on a jury? Only those whose schedules allow them to serve? i.e., the unemployed, the disabled, or those over 70? Then of course, you'd have to excuse those who felt that civic duty was a waste of their time.

I'm flabbergasted that someone not only feels that way but feels free to post those thoughts on a public forum.

Oops - I forgot! It's because we live in a free society!

+ Add a Comment