Jury duty summons

Coldfoot · Oct 11, 2003

Show up in a long hooded black robe with an axe:devil: they'll let you go home.:)

Long Term Care Columnist / Guide · Oct 11, 2003

I ran into this problem in my 2nd year of nursing school, and I was able to get a deferment, which didn't get me OUT of jury duty, but did enable me to serve my three-month term after I graduated. Back in the old days (meaning when I was 18 and newly summoned to jury duty), it was much easier than it is now to wiggle out of this civic responsibility........if you had small children at home, if you didn't have transportation, even if you worked full time and your employer didn't grant leave for jury duty, you could usually get excused. Nowadays, almost nothing short of your own death will excuse you entirely, because the courts (quite rightly, I might add) do NOT want juries made up of all retired or unemployed folks.

See if you can get a deferment until at least the summer---the worst they can do is say no, and they probably will be glad to work with you if you're not asking to be excused completely.

RNKPCE · Oct 11, 2003

I went away to college and registered to vote for the first time in my college town. What do you know I got summoned for jury duty during spring break, when everyone goes home or away. The town I went to school in let me reschedule my duty for the week before school started in the summer. That way I was already up there but it didn't interfere with classes, and most of the students were up there already too.

You can still get excused from jury duty if you are your childs primary care provider. I work part time evening, one weekday night a week so I am their main childcare provider except for that one day of week, and I have always gotten excused.

Carolanne · Oct 11, 2003

I was called to jury duty and called the office and explained that I was in school, and thus would lose valuable class time which I had paid tuition for, etc. They asked when I expected to graduate and deferred me until after then. It's a valid reason for excusal.

Paleobug · Oct 12, 2003

Yes, I received a summons in Aug. and I was supposed to report to the courthouse on the first day of school. I called them and told them I was a daytime student and they excused me. I would find out for sure in your city though, just to make sure. The last thing you would need is a warrant that you know nothing about.

NicuNsg · Oct 12, 2003

I was called in for jury duty summer of my 2nd year. I filled out the excusal form and sent in a letter from the Dir. of my nursing program. She explained in detail about the heavy load and how difficult it would be to make up, attendance policies, and federal grant guidelines. I will tell ya, I had to call to see if it was excused, which it was. I graduated in May and received a notice for jury duty for June, LOL. They will let ya slide, but you won't be forgotten.

RN-PA, RN · Oct 12, 2003

I also was called for jury duty during school-- I think I got a note from my nursing school director to be excused, and it worked out somehow. (Sorry for the bad memory-- It happened over 10 years ago.)

allnurses Guide · Oct 12, 2003

I've been summoned twice in the last two years but as soon as I mentioned I'm a breastfeeding mom, I was excused. Stops them cold every time. I'll probably breastfeed until he is three.

Not that I'm telling you to lie or anything . . .

Just kidding around.

The judge was pretty tough on people . . didn't let many off the hook. I have served on a jury and do consider it a duty as a citizen.

steph

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Oct 12, 2003

Originally posted by stevielynn
I've been summoned twice in the last two years but as soon as I mentioned I'm a breastfeeding mom, I was excused. Stops them cold every time. I'll probably breastfeed until he is three.

Not that I'm telling you to lie or anything . . .

With a birthdate on my license as 1954, I think I'd have a pretty tough time explaining that one but it's not completely outside the realm of possibility.:)

I wrote a letter explaining how jury duty could really screw things up for me and cause me irreparable damage (I was a paralegal so words like that kind of trip off my tongue), cost me money and I sent a copy of my schedule as proof. I asked for a deferment until summer and also told them that I had served as foreperson for a jury already but would be willing to do it again under better circumstances.

Palm Beach County is one of the largest, most populated counties in Florida so I don't know how they handle deferments but I have confidence they won't force me to serve at this time.

What scares me is being empaneled for the Grand jury, which this summons could be for. Grand jury duty can last as long as a year. I had a friend who had to serve on a grand jury one day a week for a year.

uk_nurse · Oct 12, 2003

I dont know how it stands in US or for student nurses but here in Uk if you are employed in the NHS (medical team) or any emergency service when the summons comes if you give proof you are in those services you are exempt (if you wish to be) from jury service. I was summoned 4 years ago and was working as a HCA and had to go. To be honest i did one case in the whole 2 weeks which lasted half an hour. I also got my wages too as had form stamped to say i was actually on jury service.

SJSU_Mami · Oct 12, 2003

I dont know if its the same in all areas, but where I live in California, being a full time student is grounds enough to excuse you. They tell you to leave a voice mail stating your reason, and then send you another notice in six months. This continued about 3 times, then I never heard from them again. If they tell you you cannot get out of it, come to court and say your uncle is a sheriff or something. They'll dismiss you. When I reregister to vote, they'll probably send me notices again.. I guess theres no way out of it after school is out.. Good luck!