# Skipping jury duty **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 29, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505 "2011-08-29T16:06:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/21 "2011-08-29T21:25:48Z")
mnemosyne, I once got as far as being in the court room when potential jurors were being questioned by the defense and prosecuting attorneys. Folks that knew someone who would be involved in the trial got deferred by one lawyer or the other, so there would be no possibility of bias in either direction. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/22 "2011-08-29T21:43:31Z")
Besides the standard specific questions, we were asked if there were any reason why we should not serve. I’m pretty sure you’ll have an opportunity to raise your issue. ---
**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 29, 2011, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/23 "2011-08-29T21:59:44Z")
To add. In my county we get one free postponement, no questions asked. So I agree that calling is going to be fine. Our daughter is living in Germany, so when she got a notice we wrote that on the form and sent it back, with no problems. Based on how few people do not respond when the roll is called in the jury room, compliance seems to be pretty good. In any case, serving on a jury is an illuminating experience. I don’t know about other places, but around here the judge is not very quick at excusing people. I was in the pool for a capital murder trial, and being against capital punishment did not get an immediate dismissal - or even objections on religious grounds. My sens is that the judge has heard it all, so you need a very good reason to be excused. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/24 "2011-08-29T22:12:32Z")
> [@nivlac](#): > > If a jury summons was sent by regular mail, so there’s no proof of receipt, how can a court rule that someone has intentionally ignored a summons? Of course, if a second summons is also ignored, then maybe some case can be built. However, even then, maybe the intended recipient of the summons has moved. So I don’t quite understand how a court can effectively enforce what is essentially a voluntary service. A very important, necessary service IMO, but one that must rely on volunteers that are recruited via jury summons. Plenty of scenarios where they could prove you willfully ignored a summons. If you are willing to lie and potentially commit perjury to make your defense it does make it harder to prove but then you’ve moved into the area of criminal behavior rather then just being negligent. “Did you receive your summons?” “Yeah I did but I couldn’t be bothered to show up or give the court a reason why” In that case they’ve easily established you intentional ignored a summons. “Did you receive you summons?” “Nope, Never got it.” A month later.. “We were concerned about the reliability of the USPS because of the high percentage of lost summons” “In your particular case we were able to contact your postman, he says you where out in the hard when he was delivering and remembers personally handing it to you.” Not only have they established you ignored the summons they’ve also proved you were lying to the court. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/25 "2011-08-29T23:46:13Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Plenty of scenarios where they could prove you willfully ignored a summons. If you are willing to lie and potentially commit perjury to make your defense it does make it harder to prove but then you’ve moved into the area of criminal behavior rather then just being negligent. > > “Did you receive your summons?” “Yeah I did but I couldn’t be bothered to show up or give the court a reason why” In that case they’ve easily established you intentional ignored a summons. > > “Did you receive you summons?” “Nope, Never got it.” A month later.. “We were concerned about the reliability of the USPS because of the high percentage of lost summons” “In your particular case we were able to contact your postman, he says you where out in the hard when he was delivering and remembers personally handing it to you.” Not only have they established you ignored the summons they’ve also proved you were lying to the court. This last scenario is kind of far-fetched (didn’t say impossible, just not very likely). Wouldn’t if make more sense for the court to just send a summons via certified mail to establish delivery and receipt of the summons? That would cost the court some money, but why can’t the USPS just cut them a break. I bet there would be less people just chucking their summons if they use certified mail. Since they don’t use certified mail where I live, I can only conclude that they’re happy being dependent on good citizen volunteers to serve. I get a summons every other year and dutifully report to the court. However, I’ve always been excused from serving. One of these days I may actually get selected! ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/26 "2011-08-29T23:56:23Z")
A rather long time ago, I served on a jury pool. Not a jury, we just sat there until about 10:30 in the morning, and were told we could go, as everyone had settled or taken a plea bargain. Earlier in the process the judge came in with a list, and called a few names out. (only five or six, with thirty people in the room.) No one answered. The judge said “Ok, I guess those folks like whacking weeds in the sunshine more than sitting in an airconditioned courthouse.” Then he walked out. Since the period of jury duty is for two entire weeks, which you seldom actually have to spend even a large fraction of, I imagine the weed whacking could include the entire time period. Unless the weeds cop a plea, that is. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Randy\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee7513/32.png) [@Randy\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Randy_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/27 "2011-08-30T00:20:12Z")
> [@nivlac](#): > > So I don’t quite understand how a court can effectively enforce what is essentially a voluntary service. A very important, necessary service IMO, but one that must rely on volunteers that are recruited via jury summons. I’m sorry, not to jump on you in particular, but this is a pet peeve of mine: jury duty is not “voluntary” any more than paying income taxes is “voluntary.” A jury summons is not a recruiting tool; it is a court order. To the OP: I agree with everyone else who says that you’ll be fine. The jury coordinators I’ve known nave been extremely accommodating for people who make honest mistakes. As long as they take steps to correct them, as you have. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/28 "2011-08-30T00:30:23Z")
> [@nivlac](#): > > This last scenario is kind of far-fetched (didn’t say impossible, just not very likely). Wouldn’t if make more sense for the court to just send a summons via certified mail to establish delivery and receipt of the summons? That would cost the court some money, but why can’t the USPS just cut them a break. I bet there would be less people just chucking their summons if they use certified mail. Since they don’t use certified mail where I live, I can only conclude that they’re happy being dependent on good citizen volunteers to serve. I get a summons every other year and dutifully report to the court. However, I’ve always been excused from serving. One of these days I may actually get selected! The Courts haven’t had a dire shortage of juries so if the system ain’t broke why fix it at a higher cost. I also kinda feel allowing a system that makes it rather easy for people unwilling to do their civic duty to skip out also helps ensure people that who finally get to the jury box are of a higher caliber and proven they are more willing to do the job prudently. We could adopt a system that is more forceful in making people serve but overall what would be the benefit? Will punishing the slackers make for a better country? Is forcing people who’d otherwise lie or break the law and skip out serve going to result in better decisions? ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/29 "2011-08-30T00:42:57Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > The Courts **haven’t had a dire shortage of juries** so if the system ain’t broke why fix it at a higher cost. > > I also kinda feel allowing a system that makes it rather easy for people unwilling to do their civic duty to skip out also helps **ensure people that who finally get to the jury box are of a higher caliber and proven they are more willing to do the job prudently.** Bolding mine. Courts arguably have a dire shortage of **qualified and representative juries** when people selectively duck out because it’s not convenient or they can’t be bothered. As to “higher caliber,” the way to land on a jury (intentionally or not) is to not have or invoke an excuse that falls into a qualified category (inability to be impartial because of personal/family history, family duties, work duties pretty much sums it up). There’s nothiing wrong with retirees, or housewives with child care, or government employees, or the unemployed (all of whom have been heavily represented on juries I’ve seen/been in the pool for), but neither are these demographics fully representative of the community/possessed of all the myriad collective knowledge/wisdom that a broader sampling brings in from the community. I’m not sure I’d feel like I were getting a “jury of my peers” if eveyone in my demographic (non-minority, working, middle class, who IME are the worst jury scofflaws) opted out because it was just too much of a hassle. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/30 "2011-08-30T03:31:43Z")
I missed my date last week…I called they sent another one…dont miss the second one…unless you like trouble. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/31 "2011-08-30T04:08:15Z")
Thanks for the answers, everyone! It’s more or less what I figured, but thought I’d take the opportunity to ask! I’m looking forward to it…unless it coincides/causes problems with getting a new job. That could be tricky! ---
**Author:** ![Dano83860](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a4c791/32.png) [@Dano83860](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dano83860)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/32 "2011-08-30T04:22:05Z")
> [@MikeS](#): > > Worst-case scenario? You’re found in contempt of court and a bench warrant is issued for you. The next time you’re pulled over for a broken taillight, the nice officer runs your name through the computer and discovers this warrant in the system. You’re hauled before a judge and fined and/or sentenced to community service. > > So yeah. I wouldn’t. Even worst case. It’s after hours and you get to spend the night as a guest at the county B&B. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/33 "2011-08-30T07:23:35Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > Thanks for the answers, everyone! It’s more or less what I figured, but thought I’d take the opportunity to ask! I’m looking forward to it…unless it coincides/causes problems with getting a new job. That could be tricky! By the way, **mnemosyne** , jury selection in Canada is not as lengthy a process as it is in the US - there’s the general questions that the jduge addresses to the entire jury pool, and then there may be some specific challenges for cause or peremptory challenges, but you won’t be grilled as much as is shown on US tv shows. Also, since you’re in Quebec, you’ve been summoned for a criminal case, as Quebec doesn’t use the jury in civil matters. Curious to hear how it all turns out! (Barring a change in the law, I’ll never get to serve on a jury, so I’m always interested to hear other peoples’ experience.) ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/34 "2011-08-30T12:19:15Z")
I exchanged messages with a lady from the jury office. They had my name AND address wrong. They’ll only call me back if there’s a problem. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/35 "2011-08-30T13:43:07Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > I exchanged messages with a lady from the jury office. They had my name AND address wrong. They’ll only call me back if there’s a problem. **Hazle** , if your parents live in a different jurisdiction than you (typically, county level), you have a valid disqualification. Generally, you are required to respond before your date. You did handle it properly, BTW. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/36 "2011-08-30T14:17:09Z")
I’ve lived outside the US for several years and from time to time have wondered if I might be setting myself up for trouble when I return, if I did happen to get any jury duty notices while I’ve been gone. I haven’t always kept my forwarding addresses up to date. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/37 "2011-08-30T15:44:00Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > By the way, **mnemosyne** , jury selection in Canada is not as lengthy a process as it is in the US - there’s the general questions that the jduge addresses to the entire jury pool, and then there may be some specific challenges for cause or peremptory challenges, but you won’t be grilled as much as is shown on US tv shows. > > Also, since you’re in Quebec, you’ve been summoned for a criminal case, as Quebec doesn’t use the jury in civil matters. > > Curious to hear how it all turns out! (Barring a change in the law, I’ll never get to serve on a jury, so I’m always interested to hear other peoples’ experience.) I’m actually kind of looking forward to it, unless it prevents me from having job interviews or some other such inconvenience. I knew it would be a criminal case, which could be interesting, but also likely to be kind of long, no? My brother was dismissed from serving a year or two ago, and he later found out that that case went on for something like 4 months! I was somewhat pleasantly surprised to see how prospective jurors are paid; cost of transit and/or $0.45 per km and parking fees are covered. Something in the range of $9 for breakfast, $14 for lunch and $30(IIRC) for supper. If retained for jury duty, jurors are paid $90 a day and up to $130 for hotel/accomodations. I always thought it was much less than that. Since I am, at present, unemployed, it doesn’t seem like such a bad deal, though it is admittedly less than I expect to make when I start working! ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505/38 "2011-08-30T17:18:06Z")
> [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](#): > > Well, I’m screwed then! I rec’d the summons at my parents’ house and they passed the info along to me; however, I thought the date was for tomorrow, but it was today. :smack: > > A related question. Say the notice had gotten sent to a previous address of mine and the current residents just tossed it in the trash. I would never have even known about this summons if it hadn’t gone to my parents’ house. Anyway, what should I do? Make a phone call? or what? Yeah - contact them. They’re not really out to GET people who’ve missed jury duty, they’re probably quite willing to reschedule you. It’s the people who miss, and do NOT check in, who get them mad. So I’ve heard, anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skipping-jury-duty/594505.md?page=1)