# Is This A Legitimate Jury Notification? A Bizarro Fishing Scam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 11, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966 "2018-12-11T21:28:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/1 "2018-12-11T21:28:14Z")
I got the following post card in the mail today. [Front](https://postimg.cc/RJrKRfCV) [Back](https://postimg.cc/xc3Mvcwn) This is new for me. I’ve been summoned to county jury three times, always via a sealed envelope. And not for nothing, the federal courthouse in question is every bit of 80 miles away. Does this ping anyone else’s scam radar? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/2 "2018-12-11T21:35:45Z")
“The Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. United States Courthouse”? I was amazed to just now learn that this is, in fact, [a real place](https://www.moed.uscourts.gov/division/rush-hudson-limbaugh-sr-us-courthouse). (It’s apparently named after the radio host’s grandfather.) ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/3 "2018-12-11T21:42:21Z")
I would call the federal court house itself - not the number on the post card. And I sure as hell wouldn’t go to that website. Check the Clerk of Courts for your district. It might be legit, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/4 "2018-12-11T22:19:25Z")
Called the court, it’s legit. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/5 "2018-12-11T22:24:19Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > I would call the federal court house itself - not the number on the post card. And I sure as hell wouldn’t go to that website. Check the Clerk of Courts for your district. > > It might be legit, but I wouldn’t bet the farm on it. > > Regards, > Shodan AFAIK .gov domains are only available to actual government agencies. If it ended in something like .net, .com, .tv, .me that would be a different matter. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/6 "2018-12-11T22:24:27Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > “The Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. United States Courthouse”? Damn. And I thought [this shit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strom_Thurmond_Federal_Building_and_United_States_Courthouse) was bad. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/7 "2018-12-11T22:30:48Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > “The Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. United States Courthouse”? > > I was amazed to just now learn that this is, in fact, [a real place](https://www.moed.uscourts.gov/division/rush-hudson-limbaugh-sr-us-courthouse). ( **It’s apparently named after the radio host’s grandfather.** ) > [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Damn. And I thought [this shit](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strom_Thurmond_Federal_Building_and_United_States_Courthouse) was bad. His [Wiki](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_Limbaugh_Sr.) article is lacking anything about his specific views or politics. This was interesting, though. > [@](#): > > When he retired from his law practice at age 102, he was reportedly the oldest practicing attorney in the United States. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/8 "2018-12-11T23:48:34Z")
Interesting. Do they have to provide transportation? Suppose you don’t have a car? 80 miles is quite a distance. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/9 "2018-12-11T23:55:25Z")
If you don’t have a car, and there is no public transportation, that should be a reason to eliminate you from the jury. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/10 "2018-12-12T01:03:44Z")
> [@Hari Seldon](#): > > Interesting. Do they have to provide transportation? Suppose you don’t have a car? 80 miles is quite a distance. Not in Missouri. Distance is not an excuse, and they only offer a stipend towards the cost of a hotel if you’re more than 100 miles from the court. This varies by state and district - for example, being 80+ miles away is a consideration for (but not automatic) hardship with the Northern District of California courts. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/11 "2018-12-12T01:06:07Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > If you don’t have a car, and there is no public transportation, that should be a reason to eliminate you from the jury. But complain in mail before hand. If you show up the first time, the judge may say you made it once you can make it regularly. I’ve not seen this applied to commuting, but I have seen it applied to child care. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/12 "2018-12-12T01:46:15Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Interesting. Do they have to provide transportation? Suppose you don’t have a car? 80 miles is quite a distance. > [@gotpasswords](#): > > Not in Missouri. Distance is not an excuse, and they only offer a stipend towards the cost of a hotel if you’re more than 100 miles from the court. > > This varies by state and district - for example, being 80+ miles away is a consideration for (but not automatic) hardship with the Northern District of California courts. I’ve worked with people who commuted that far. In a lot of areas that’s only a little over an hour’s drive. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/13 "2018-12-12T02:18:49Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > I’ve worked with people who commuted that far. In a lot of areas that’s only a little over an hour’s drive. But it’s more than a day’s (i.e., 24 hours) walk. And it’s likely more than an $80 Uber fee. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/14 "2018-12-12T02:59:56Z")
In California that’s how jury notifications are sent at least how I get them. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/15 "2018-12-12T03:30:34Z")
About 10 years ago, a woman I worked with was called to sit on a grand jury at our state capitol, which was about 70 miles away. In addition to her stipend, which she had to turn in, she was also paid a mileage rate of about 50 cents a mile; that, she could keep. That’s really all I remember about it; this was in Illinois. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/16 "2018-12-12T03:55:58Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > Not in Missouri. Distance is not an excuse, and they only offer a stipend towards the cost of a hotel if you’re more than 100 miles from the court. > > This varies by state and district - for example, being 80+ miles away is a consideration for (but not automatic) hardship with the Northern District of California courts. But the OP’s notice was for _federal_ court. However, it looks like there’s some [variation from district to district.](http://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/jury-service) > [@](#): > > Each of the 94 federal district courts maintains its own jury procedures and policies regarding excuses from jury service. Many courts offer excuses from service, on individual request, to designated groups of persons or occupational classes. Such groups may include persons over age 70; persons who have, within the past two years, served on a federal jury; and persons who serve as volunteer fire fighters or members of a rescue squad or ambulance crew. > > The Jury Act also allows courts to excuse a juror from service at the time he or she is summoned on the grounds of “undue hardship or extreme inconvenience.” The juror should write a letter to the clerk of court requesting an excuse with an explanation of hardship. > > Excuses for jurors are granted at the discretion of the court and cannot be reviewed or appealed to Congress or any other entity. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/17 "2018-12-12T05:40:57Z")
I was called to be on a Federal Court jury once in Hawaii. They started with explaining what the trial would be about, then started asking if anyone had a written reason they couldn’t serve (which didn’t guarantee dismissal), then anyone who thought they had a valid verbal reason they couldn’t serve, would step up to a mike and state their reason (few were dismissed). Then they asked if anyone wanted a sidebar, a chance to talk directly to the judge, prosecuting and defense attorneys at the bench. I was the third or fourth person to approach the bench and I told everyone that I had a long held belief that both sides were corrupt and would say and do anything to win the case. The judge warned me to speak softer and everyone immediately dismissed me. About 5-6 hours had passed. Sure, it’s on my Federal record somewhere, but I haven’t received a jury notice, State or Federal since! ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/18 "2018-12-12T15:08:25Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > But it’s more than a day’s (i.e., 24 hours) walk. And it’s likely more than an $80 Uber fee. I see nothing in the OP to make me think he doesn’t have a car. His question was “Does it ping anyone’s scam radar?” Nothing about wanting to get out of it if it turned out to be legit. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/19 "2018-12-12T15:22:31Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > I was called to be on a Federal Court jury once in Hawaii. How does it work there, where you could live on a different island than the court is on? Do you submit for reimbursement for the ferry or plane ride? And how long could the journey be? ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2018, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966/20 "2018-12-12T16:16:03Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > How does it work there, where you could live on a different island than the court is on? Do you submit for reimbursement for the ferry or plane ride? And how long could the journey be? Wow, interesting question I never thought about neighbor islands. I just looked up the FAQ for Federal Court and in Hawaii: Jurors get mileage to/from the airport, but nothing about the plane fare to/from Oahu, which can be up to $200/RT with nothing said about reimbursement, and take up to a hour one way. No ferries anymore. If you’re just showing up for jury selection, you get nothing. Jurors are put up in hotel during the weekdays and expected to return home on the weekends. So another $200 if the trial lasts more than a week. [http://www.hid.uscourts.gov/dsp\_FAQ.cfm?catid=7&SNPID=26&SNMID=27#](http://www.hid.uscourts.gov/dsp_FAQ.cfm?catid=7&SNPID=26&SNMID=27#) Thanks for the question! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-legitimate-jury-notification-a-bizarro-fishing-scam/825966.md?page=2)