OH %&*(& Jury duty!

Nursing Students General Students

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Specializes in Ante-Intra-Postpartum, Post Gyne.

I go to school four days a week. I just got a jury summons, I swear I get them every four months! I so can not deal with this while in school, and they do not let you out of it for school unless it is the first week of classes or finals week. The day I have to appear and argue my getting out of it is on the day of my clinicals.

Any suggestions or stories of what you have done?

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Call the number on the letter and tell them your situation is my best advice.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.

USUALLY students are exempt...at least they are in Texas

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Tell them you are breastfeeding an infant. It worked for me twice.

Of course, I really was breastfeeding. :monkeydance:

If you call and explain your situation, alot of time they will just schedule you in the summer or during a time you are available.

steph

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Specializes in Ortho, Neuro, Detox, Tele.

Can't hurt to call the courthouse, but also make sure you tell your instructors so they cannot hold it against you. If I have to argue it to get out of it, go figure. I'm missing school because I'm not sacrificing myself for a 50 buck armed robbery case. I'm waiting, scanning the mail for the magic envelope to arrive....

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I'd suggest finding out what your county or state statutes say about jury duty. Google {state or county} "jury duty" statutes gov.

In my county it is incredibly tough to get out of. They reluctantly (and I mean very reluctantly) excused me due to pending birth, only to recall me up again 6 weeks later (at which time I had gone 2 weeks overdue on my pregnancy). They had known my due date from the prior attempt and would have been knowingly calling me up to serve when they thought I was only 2 weeks post partum. Insane! :rolleyes:

I wish I could remember the name of the website. There's one out there which deals with jury duty horror stories. I'd never have believed the stories on there if I hadn't had such troubles with getting excused myself with some pretty darn valid excuses.

Good luck! Hopefully you live in a county/state which has some good laws on your side.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiothoracics, VADs.

They usually hate having nurses on jury duty ("too compassionate" for the defense allegedly) so you could try that.

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Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

might as well go on the day you are assigned to go. if you get chosen for a jury panel just act a little silly. giggle inappropriately. you can tell when the judge or one of the lawyers is asking a question that is going to make or break you as a juror for the case. take a book with you and read it, if the judge lets you get away with it, and act like you're bored with the whole thing. they'll excuse you. then, your day of service is over for the next 12 months.

the last time i got called i had to go down to the superior court in l.a. where they have all the criminal trials. we were asked if we watched "csi" by the prosecutor of the case i was called for. everyone who raised their hands was dismissed. anyone who had been on a jury before that had resulted in the person on trial getting convicted also got dismissed. anyone who had a criminal in the family who had served time in the state or federal pen was dismissed. anyone who had been the victim of a physical crime was also dismissed. the case i was called for was a serious assault where a person had been seriously injured. i got dismissed. i don't know why, but i suspect it was because i was a nurse. they also dismissed the two lawyers and a couple of small business owners who were in the same crowd i was in. they excused a guy who was hard of hearing and asking them to repeat just about everything they said. they excused another person who could barely speak english. they did take a guy who was a waiter at olive garden as their first juror, however. (i'm giving you some ideas of how to get out of this if you end up having to go to a specific courtroom and get questioned to become a potential juror.) most of the day was spent just sitting around, so if you decide to go, take something to read or keep you busy.

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Specializes in NICU/L&D, Hospice.

I had a jury summons for the beginning of the semester. I called and they said that they could not excuse me, only the judge. He was super nice (it always helps if you have a terrific attitude with them). I had no school on Friday's so he was able to reschedule me for a friday selection. At that selection I would have to sit through the whole thing and then ask to be excused (which they will do). Luckily, when I called the night before I was scheduled (when you call to double check if you have to go), the case was dismissed and I was out of it! Whoo hoo! So my advice would be to call them up and ask for them to reschedule you for appearance on your day out of school. Then I would bring your nursing department attendence policy with you to court to have just incase the judge doesn't understand the way our program works and that you are not just trying to get out of it.

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

People in my family just throw the summons away. It's not sent by registered mail so there's no proof that you ever got it. The one that I got I was excused though for school.

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Specializes in ICU, ER, HH, NICU, now FNP.
People in my family just throw the summons away. It's not sent by registered mail so there's no proof that you ever got it. The one that I got I was excused though for school.

In Dallas County they will put a warrant out for your arrest for not showing up...

might tell your family to think about that.

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Specializes in Case Management, Home Health, UM.

Just tell the judge that you are a nursing student and attendance is mandatory. That's what I did, when I received a summons during my senior year and was immediately excused from duty.

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