You know, I am almost 41 and I have NEVER been called for jury duty. My husband has been called 3 or 4 times. I would definitely think that no childcare would be a good reason for dismissal.
I was dismissed a few years back. I wrote a letter saying that I was still nursing my youngest and was a SAHM to my other children. It was dismissed but I don't know if the nursing baby was the key factor or not. By the way I would be happy to serve on a jury it was just not feasible at that time in my life--with a 10 week old. If called now I could make arrangements even though I am still a SAHM
I've been called only once (when I was 22) and it was from my home county just weeks after moving to another county. The notice was forwarded to my new address. Of course, I didn't have to serve. I only had to send a letter indicating my change of address to another county. Since then, I haven't been called. Even if you had to appear, you might get dismissed anyway.
Called up twice, dismissed both times. 1st time I actually wanted to do it, but they sent me packing pretty early for some unknown reason. 2nd time, was to determine how much a lady that was in an accident was going to get. When they asked if anyone had a reason to be excused or whatever they say, I said "yeah, I think she's pretty cute, so I'll prolly award in her favor". I was out the door within 15 minutes
I have. When my oldest was a baby. I have no family here, and at the time, didn't really know (or trust) anyone to watch him, and was a SAHM. So just sent in a note stating that, and I got out of it. It was all the truth too. I was very nervous, didn't know what I would do with my baby if I had to go, I didn't trust anyone with my baby at that time. Still don't let that many people watch my kids!
I really don't think I could do it anyway. I have panic attacks and being on a jury might just send me into one.
That's kind of my problem. I would have no one to get my 4 yr old to pre-school and back and no one to watch her before and after school, (her hours are not the same as the elementary, middle, or high schools, she only goes 6 hrs a day). I certainly don't mind doing it, just need to post pone it a year until she's in school full-time. I was wondering if that was a good enough reason and being the first time I've ever been called up, I didn't know. Thanks all who replied.
Sometimes your line of work or a family member's occupation will get you quickly excused. My MIL was dismissed quickly after the defense attorney discovered that she had family that was both in insurance and news media.
Just did Jury duty about a month ago and childcare is not a excuse with the judge we had..some had some really good ones and he told them all no. Two days we were never called in there and the case was settle with out us. Sheri
I've always been under the impression that childcare was not a reason to be excused. I have been called 3 times. First time I showed up and when they asked my occupation I told them I was a teacher of students with behavioral/emotional disabilities. They thought I needed to be with my class and said they would call me again in the summer. The second time I showed up and they dismissed a group of us for some reason unknown. The third time was when they started the phone in procedure the night before. I called and the recording said my services were not needed. DH was just called a few months ago for the first time in his life and he is 6 1/2 years older than I am!
I was released from jury duty because I worked 2 jobs and am a single parent of two children. If I missed even one day at work it put me behind financially. If my employers would pay me for the time I missed I would have been able to serve, but they would not. I wrote a letter the day I received my summons and received a letter back 2 weeks later excusing me from jury duty. I would really like to serve if I didn't have to worry about paying the mortgage or light bill every month.
That may be the key. Write a letter to the chief judge explaining your circumstances and why it's a hardship for you to serve, and he may very well excuse you. If you just show up at the courtroom on the designated day and ask the presiding judge to be excused, he has to answer you in front of all those other jurors who also would rather not be there. It's a much harder sell.
My brother and father got called at the same time. The both wrote letters explaining that it just wasn't a good time because of peak farming or something another. They both got excused.
It really will depend on the situation. My last stint on a jury the judge told everyone there were few instances that would allow an excuse. The DA excused a guy who worked the third shift and would be coming to court after working all night because he could not afford to miss work. The judge did not excues anyone and even took a couple into chambers when they made statement obviously designed to get themselves out of duty. He even had his clerk call the US attorney with which I worked to inform them i would be unavailable for a week or so rather than give a blanket excuse. The attorney told me about it later and was proud of herself for 'setting' me up by saying they would not need me for a while. The previous judge did allow some hardships to be an excuse, including mine. As I was an expert witness for the DOJ and being unable to leave town for meetings might be a problem for them. My wife was excused once for medical reasons only with a written letter from her doctor and only for a period of two years. I remember reading about one judge who sent deputies out into the stret to bring in jurors. No notice, just an ambush so to speak.
I have actually been called several times and only had to appear once which was earlier this year. I experienced the one and only panic attack of my life on the bend. I was released for other reasons but it I am ever called again I plan to have my doctor write a letter. It was a terrible feeling and I don't want to go there again.
