What are some good excuses to get out of jury duty?

Question

I won't really lose money from work, it's just too far of a drive and too early in the morning. I'm also just starting a new job so I'm in training.. it could affect my probationary period on whether or not I get the job? HELP ME

Ok.. so basically I have to pretend to be biased or racist, which I'm not (hilarious answers though). To those of you who are trying to make me feel guilty about not doing my " duty " as an American citizen.. puhleese. This country has gone straight to hell, with our without me.

Answer 1

I 'm not sure I would recommend this to everybody but I was in the same boat as you are. I had just started a new job too.When I received my notice I called the court; I explained my situation; I even asked could I get SOME kind of relief here? Or extension? Or Stay? Nope. . .Nope. . .Nope! Finally I just sealed the notice back up and wrote on the outside "Return To Sender--Moved Left No Forwarding Address"

I haven't heard from them going on seventeen years!

Answer 2

The real question is why do you really want an excuse to keep from doing your civic duty? Your employer doesn't have a policy to cover your absence during your jury duty? Odd. Now having stated my goody two shoes reply, in my area the judges are really tough & from my personal experiance, less than .1% (that's point 1 percent) potential jurors are excused. Warrants are issued for people who fail to show. My postal person lost my first notice & I received a nice note that stated if I didn't call a phone # within 5 days, a warrant would be issued for my arrest. I called & told them my story & I was re-scheduled for immediate jury duty. However our case was dropped quickly as it was settled out of court & they dismissed all the potential jurors. So I am good for another year! I think you really ought to go if you possibly can just to see how our justice system really works!

Answer 3

Well for one, there really is no good excuse, because it's your obligation. For two, I think it's illegal for your job to effect anything because of jury duty. The court gives you paperwork proving that's where you are. Also, you aren't usually assigned jury duty somewhere further than the area feels is too far for you to get to. You can usually request a change in the location if you have no way to get there, or even the date if you think it would be easier because of your job, but it will just be rescheduled not cancelled. And the time, well, theres nothing much you can do about that. I think it always is the same time.

Answer 4

Call the jury office and get it postponed until you are more solid in your job. I just served on a jury and it was GREAT! I recommend it, and it's IMPORTANT to the process! Also, it's ILLEGAL for you workplace to in ANY WAY jeopardize your employment as a result of jury duty, even if you are in training.

You can try a lot of excuses, but they've heard most of them. Ones that worked in our jury were that one woman's husband had been shot, so she hated courtrooms -- she got dismissed. Another woman was completely hard of hearing -- she got dismissed. Try acting like you're deaf or you could claim you have been the victim of a crime, but remember YOU WILL BE UNDER OATH, so if lying is OK with you, then fine.

Good luck!

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What are some good excuses to get out of jury duty?
I won't really lose money from work, it's just too far of a drive and too early in the morning. I'm also just starting a new job so I'm in training.. it could affect my probationary period on whether or not I get the job? HELP ME

Answer 6

You can hardly ever get out unless you are a Senior citizen or handicapped. Any excuse will be met with continuation later, they will reschedule you.

Hardship may also work.

However your new employer shouldn't punish you for jury duty.

Answer 7

I'm a law student, and i can tell you that unless you show you are biased, or have a problem with the type of case involved, it will be very hard to get out. BTW, it will not affect your job at all. federal law prohibits companies doing anything to you during jury duty.

Answer 8

In a civil case, I was asked if I understood that corporations and people have the same rights, and knowing this, could I render a just verdict.

My answer was NO. My justification was that as a person, I could be put to death for the killing of another. But, as a CEO of of a company that purposely made a device which knowingly killed someone, I could not receive the same punishment. "it is immoral and unethical to grant someone the same rights and privileges, and not demand the same consequences": Therefore in a company verses a citizen complaint, I would almost always favor the citizen. (this was an asbestos case)

Answer 9

I think you can reject going up to two times. You can't use too far of a drive and too early as an excuse but I think the job problem will be an OK excuse.

Answer 10

To those who suggested changing the time of location of jury duty: They don't reschedule/move the trial for your convenience. Maybe for the defendant, but not the jury. If you don't know that, quit answering questions about trials.