# Haven't Been Called for Jury Duty.. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 29, 2011, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553 "2011-08-29T23:07:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![El\_Nene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/da6949/32.png) [@El\_Nene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Nene)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/21 "2011-08-30T18:02:21Z")
Got called up shortly after turning 18. I couldn’t participate because I was not yet a US citizen. I have not been called in the 14 years since. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/22 "2011-08-30T18:05:06Z")
Is anyone in the thread a naturalized citizen? I’m pretty sure my parents and uncles have never been called and they’re all naturalized. I’m wondering if it’s a glitch or just confirmation bias. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/23 "2011-08-30T18:43:08Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > I expect the state not to ask me to sacrifice… The state has already provided you with roads to drive on, subways to ride on, daycare regulations to ensure that your kid is in good hands when you do need to leave him, etc. People are always bitching about what a burden civil obligations are, when, in fact, they are almost completely transparent, and a huge bargain compared with the benefits they pay for. Sacrifice/shmacrifice. It’s the bill coming due. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/24 "2011-08-30T19:04:04Z")
I was called about 5 years ago. Never made it to the courthouse. I phoned in a couple of days and was done. Very disappointing. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/25 "2011-08-30T19:18:20Z")
> [@RadicalPi](#): > > I’ve been called, I think, seventeen times. Three of those are federal. It’s annoying, but I can do it in the summer. It’s certainly easier if you have a job with flexible hours, or where you can determine your own schedule. My wife got her first federal court jury call for March of this year, which would have been smack in the middle of the Spring semester, and might have seriously disrupted her classes. She asked for a deferment to the summer, when she is not teaching and is mainly working on her own material (research, writing, etc.), and can be available for jury duty without any scheduling or financial hardship. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/26 "2011-08-30T19:26:20Z")
Wish I had your problem. I just got my third summons in about ten years. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/27 "2011-08-30T19:29:49Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Is anyone in the thread a naturalized citizen? I’m pretty sure my parents and uncles have never been called and they’re all naturalized. I’m wondering if it’s a glitch or just confirmation bias. My wife is a naturalized citizen and got called up about a year ago. She didn’t actually have to appear— fortune smiled on her when she called the “do I need to show up” number the night before, as instructed on the summons. Fortune has twice failed to smile upon me in the same way, and strike three is coming up shortly. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/28 "2011-08-30T20:04:26Z")
I lived in NJ for 15 years and never got called. After about 7 years in California I finally got a summons. The judge for the case where I was actually on said that once you serve your chances go up, since they know you will show. The people in the jury room also said to make sure that the name on your license matches that on the voting records exactly, otherwise you show up on their rolls twice. So, if you want to increase your chances … ---
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/29 "2011-08-30T20:14:30Z")
> [@Sudden\_Kestrel](#): > > So, how can I get out of it? 😃 The trick is to say you’re prejudiced against all races. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/30 "2011-08-30T22:53:13Z")
Haven’t been called once in 30 years of being eligible. I don’t know why. I’d actually be interested in doing it, as long as I don’t have some OJ clusterfuck. [tinfoil hat] I wonder if it’s because I’m a white man? Does the defense tend to throw them out, or something? Do they even know? [/tinfoil hat] ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/31 "2011-08-31T00:35:09Z")
I’m a licensed driver (in PA) and a consistent voter, but I’ve never been called. That being said, I wonder if they would even want to use me–my uncle is a retired cop, my brother works for the county prison and my son-in-law does security stuff for the armed service. Watch…now I’ll get a summons in the mail… ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/32 "2011-08-31T03:59:23Z")
I live in CA, am registered to vote, got called once when I still had a breastfeeding baby (9 years ago), delayed and nothing since. Eta I have a drivers license too. ---
**Author:** ![4d3fect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/4d3fect/32/9728_2.png) [@4d3fect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/4d3fect)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/33 "2011-08-31T04:45:58Z")
Since buying a home here (Cali) I’ve been summoned every eighteen months or so, selected from the pool every time and excused (voir dire) every time. And never knew why, except once (negative experience with LEO). And for those of you pining to serve, BEWARE WHAT YOU WISH FOR. ---
**Author:** ![Bibliothecarius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@Bibliothecarius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliothecarius)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/34 "2011-08-31T13:30:13Z")
My dad, at age 64, has never once been called for jury duty. My mom, at age 60, was called once when my brother and I were toddlers but got out of it due to being the primary caregiver of two young children. I got called once when I was about 20 and got out of it due to work responsibilities. _Two weeks later_…my brother got called up (we were registered at the same address). Anyone else find anything suspiciously odd about that? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/35 "2011-08-31T18:13:38Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > The state has already provided you with roads to drive on, subways to ride on, daycare regulations to ensure that your kid is in good hands when you do need to leave him, etc. People are always bitching about what a burden civil obligations are, when, in fact, they are almost completely transparent, and a huge bargain compared with the benefits they pay for. Sacrifice/shmacrifice. It’s the bill coming due. > > –Cliffy Yeah, I have to agree with this sentiment. I know that some folks have it harder than others. But compared to the ubiquitous benefits provided by our system, the burden of jury duty is light. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/36 "2011-08-31T19:15:54Z")
I have never been called for jury duty. Approaching 55 years old. Registered voter since 18 years old, valid driver’s license since 16. Homeowner, I have lived in the same county all this time, I even purchased my parents former home and although I moved around a bit in the local area I now live in the same place I grew up in. Never been arrested or even finger-printed. No known reason to be excluded, yet I have never been called. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/37 "2011-08-31T19:19:35Z")
I was never called for jury duty in 25 years…the second I moved to California, BOOM! Called in. And everyone I work with gets called ALL THE TIME. I don’t know if it’s just the area, or what; not sure there’s even a sitting judge, as it always seems to be a travelling judge presiding over things, which makes it weird…trials get drawn out for months due to only being able to hold court a couple days a week. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/38 "2011-08-31T20:07:35Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Is anyone in the thread a naturalized citizen? I’m pretty sure my parents and uncles have never been called and they’re all naturalized. I’m wondering if it’s a glitch or just confirmation bias. Both my parents are naturalized and they’ve been called up numerous times. I’ve been summoned twice in 18 years (since turning 18), and the first time I got kicked off during voir dire (for who knows why–I wasn’t angling to get out of it), and the second time (just a few weeks ago), I just had to call in the night before to see if I had to show up, and my last name wasn’t in the part of the alphabet that had to serve. So I’m 0 for 2. ---
**Author:** ![curious11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac91a4/32.png) [@curious11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curious11)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/39 "2011-08-31T20:11:33Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > OP, do you commute across county or municipal lines? > –Cliffy I live and work in the same county, as do all my coworkers. ---
**Author:** ![Bri2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/48db29/32.png) [@Bri2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bri2k)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553/40 "2011-08-31T20:50:49Z")
I’m a life-long PA resident and have been a registered voter for the last 25 years and in all that time I only got one questionaire for jury duty. At the time (8 years ago) I was trying to launch a start-up and listed my occupation as small business owner. I never heard back. Bri2k [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/havent-been-called-for-jury-duty/594553.md?page=1)