# Jury duty question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2018, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879 "2018-09-25T12:35:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/1 "2018-09-25T12:35:34Z")
I have been called to potentially show up for jury duty. I don’t mind serving but I am concerned about my bladder. I need to pee about every 30 minutes. Do they allow that many potty breaks? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/2 "2018-09-25T12:47:07Z")
Exactly how things are run varies from place to place. Procedures vary dramatically. the best thing to do is call the folks in charge and ask them. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/3 "2018-09-25T12:49:09Z")
They should take your medical condition into account. If not, then they need to be prepared for numerous recesses. They may, however, ask for some kind of medical documentation because people come up with all kinds of trumped up excuses because they don’t want to serve. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/4 "2018-09-25T13:08:09Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I have been called to potentially show up for jury duty. I don’t mind serving but I am concerned about my bladder. I need to pee about every 30 minutes. Do they allow that many potty breaks? Man - that must really mess up your life. How do you ever go anywhere? ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/5 "2018-09-25T13:15:31Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > Exactly how things are run varies from place to place. Procedures vary dramatically. the best thing to do is call the folks in charge and ask them. Yes, call in advance. I would think you would be dismissed for medical reasons, but every jurisdiction will have different procedures on how that happens. There are quite a few breaks during proceedings, but not that often. When I was on jury duty, there were breaks every 90 minutes or so, as I recall, but certainly not every half hour. Surely, you’ve seen a doctor about this issue? What if you don’t drink anything? ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/6 "2018-09-25T14:05:12Z")
Agreed, call ahead and find out what your options are. [anecdote] I received a summons for jury duty. A few days after I received the notice, I suffered an injury and was placed on some pretty significant pain meds. I hobbled into the court clerk’s office the Friday before I was ordered to appear, explained what happened, showed her my prescription bottle and was released from service.[/anecdote] ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/7 "2018-09-25T14:12:49Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > I have been called to potentially show up for jury duty. I don’t mind serving but I am concerned about my bladder. I need to pee about every 30 minutes. Do they allow that many potty breaks? They would try to accommodate you, but a 5 to 10 minute break every 30 minutes would seriously slow down the pace of a trial. If I was a lawyer in that case, I’d ask that you be excused. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/8 "2018-09-25T14:28:52Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Man - that must really mess up your life. How do you ever go anywhere? I work for myself and there is always someplace (McDonald’s, etc). ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/9 "2018-09-25T14:30:24Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > Agreed, call ahead and find out what your options are. > > [anecdote] > I received a summons for jury duty. A few days after I received the notice, I suffered an injury and was placed on some pretty significant pain meds. I hobbled into the court clerk’s office the Friday before I was ordered to appear, explained what happened, showed her my prescription bottle and was released from service.[/anecdote] Was it being on the meds or the hobbling that they excused you for? ---
**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:** [September 25, 2018, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/10 "2018-09-25T14:48:04Z")
In my experience, the jury summons has a section where you can provide a reason you should be excused and filling that out and returning the form might save you a trip to the courthouse. A couple of the standard responses I remember seeing were that you’re over seventy years old, you’re a student away at school or you’re not a US citizen. Is there such a thing on your summons? Is there a space for having a medical condition that makes it impossible or inconvenient for you to have to serve? ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/11 "2018-09-25T14:50:12Z")
I echo Dewey Finn Anecdote: I was preliminarily listed for possible Grand Jury duty. Due to my prostate cancer surgery and medications, I have a similar problem, though I’d say the calls of nature are only about every 90 minutes (except right after lunch when I’ve had anything (even water) to drink when it might be 3 times in the first hour). I explained this on the questionnaire and never heard back form them but was not called. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/12 "2018-09-25T15:29:53Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > Was it being on the meds or the hobbling that they excused you for? I didn’t ask. She said I was excused and I tried very hard to not let the door hit me in the ass. ---
**Author:** ![blob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blob/32/489_2.png) [@blob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blob)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/13 "2018-09-25T15:35:23Z")
Even if you can’t put it on the form (or don’t want to, it’s pretty personal), you can mention it to the person in charge where you sit about waiting and to the person who takes you into a court, if you go in one, then if you get selected, you can mention it to someone. As Procrustus said, it’s likely you’d be excused. That sort of need is unlikely to be accommodated. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/14 "2018-09-25T16:22:31Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Man - that must really mess up your life. How do you ever go anywhere? Sounds like he goes everywhere. Surprised we haven’t bumped into each other. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/15 "2018-09-25T16:37:43Z")
Do you go to the doctor for this problem? He can write you an excuse. I think medical reasons are probably the most excusable. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/16 "2018-09-25T21:38:27Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Do you go to the doctor for this problem? He can write you an excuse. > I think medical reasons are probably the most excusable. I would think medical excuse can get you off 90% of the time. But being a convicted felon gets you out 100% of the time. So go and commit a crime, you’ll never have to serve on a jury again. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/17 "2018-09-25T22:29:37Z")
So true. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/18 "2018-09-25T23:09:18Z")
George Carlin had a simpler solution. Just tell the court that you can spot a guilty person instantly. “It’s all in the distance between the eyes!” Pull out a ruler and measure the judge, he’ll appreciate your diligence. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/19 "2018-09-25T23:35:35Z")
old joke: a jury is 12 people who could not figure out a way to avoid jury duty 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2018, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879/20 "2018-09-26T00:16:29Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I would think medical excuse can get you off 90% of the time. But being a convicted felon gets you out 100% of the time. So go and commit a crime, you’ll never have to serve on a jury again. Working in a prison has seemingly gotten me out of it. Prior to doing my current gig, back when I was in private practice, I was called for jury duty twice and placed in the pool of jurors each time. After that, I got the notification of potential service twice again, but after filling out the questionnaire where I related my occupation and noted that if the person were convicted and sent to prison I’d be their doctor, I never got called in. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-question/821879.md?page=2)