Jury duty and new grad program

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Hi all! I'm looking for some suggestions as to what I can write to try to get excused from jury duty. Before anyone reminds me of my important civic duty, I want to explain that the reason I'm trying to avoid jury duty is because I just got accepted into a new grad program that requires 3 months of training and I was lucky to get in, being that there were only 5 of us hired. I understand my job can't penalize me for jury duty, this was really just terrible timing. I was thinking of explaining the new grad thing to them, but I'm also thinking I may just ask for a postponement. If I try to get excused and get denied, will I be able to postpone? Again, I'm not trying to flake out on my civic duty, this just isn't a good time for me.

Specializes in PMHNP-BC.

I don't know how it is in your state, I can only speak from my experience in Washington state. They called me for jury duty when I would have technically been on my honeymoon. I wrote them a letter and said I was getting married 2 days before, already had tickets for my honeymoon and would NOT be coming. I didn't pose it as a question, I wrote it as a statement. I don't even remember ever hearing back. I am sure there are tons of people who would love to do it! Just not me, ever.

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I filled the form out online and asked for a postponement. Hopefully everything will go as planned. I was too afraid to ignore the letter, and actually, I think I may have been late responding, but we'll see what happens.

Thanks for all the responses. I got to thinking about it, and I'm sure I'm not the first person to be in this situation. One of the new hires today actually asked for time off for a previously scheduled vacation and they said they'll work with her.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

I spent the morning taking part in jury selection for a trial beginning on Monday. The jury manager made it quite clear that anyone who was on the list for today's selection process who had not appeared would be facing repercussions. Then the judge reiterated that point in his initial address to the jury pool. There were perhaps 15 people on the list who did not appear (about 10% of the expected pool); the judge asked the court clerk to recall these people just in case they'd missed hearing their number being called. At the end of that process, the judge ordered the clerk to turn over her list of those not in attendance to the sheriff for follow-up. Failing to appear in Canada can be met with a $1000 fine and/or 30 days in jail.

During the course of jury selection, there were a number of people who requested exemption and were granted them after consultation with the Crown and defense attorneys. Reasons included having a big mid-term exam coming up, essential services provision, having an infant who was still breastfeeding (the judge called it "caring for the child in the traditional way") and verified travel. The court is not unreasonable in exempting or excluding people if they have valid reasons, but will take a dim view of "just not showing up".

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Specializes in Progressive Care.

Something similar happened to me. Got jury duty while I was in nursing school and I requested hardship, and sent a copy of my student ID, class schedule and work ID. You could send a copy of your work ID and copy of acceptance letter into the new grad program.

Hopefully they accept your postponement. I doubt you'll have a problem.

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Guys, they excused me!! I only asked for a postponement and explained my situation. I'm so relieved, even though I know it isn't a huge deal, that's one less thing for me to have to worry about. Thanks for the help!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.

I always have been excused. Either because I was breastfeeding, a single working mom with no-one else to provide financial support. I think I've been sent letters 3x in

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