How can I get out of jury duty because I get called too often?

Question

For some reason, I get called for jury duty every single year. My husband and friends hardly ever get called. I have been lucky the past few times. Either my number is not needed, or when I go, I am dismissed in the waiting room.

I run a business from home, I have two children, and I can't afford to take time off to do jury duty. They just called me again for the middle of June and I asked for a postponment because I don't want this potentially messing up my entire summer vacation plans.

Please don't flame me with "civic duty" stuff. I have served on jurys before and I am tired of doing it.

Please tell me the best excuses to tell the judge so that I can be excused from service, in case my number comes up again at my postponment date.

My friend says that if you show a non-refundable airplane ticket you will get excused. I'm even thinking of asking one of my doctors to help me -- I have back trouble so maybe a doctor's note for that?

Answer 1

I am in real estate. I told them, if I don't work, I don't eat. They asked me to put that in writing and I was dismissed. Haven't recieved a call back since.

Tell them exactly what you told us, that you run a home business and do not get paid for time off of work. They should be very understanding about it. :)

Answer 2

Just don't show up to the first day, when they start choosing the jury. Every time I get called there are tons of people that don't show up. Sure they could come arrest you, but have you ever heard of them doing that?

Honestly you should be excused if serving will cause you a hardship. I don't know what your home business is but you'll have to explain why taking a couple days off will be a hardship. I wouldn't mention your vacation plans, you'll get picked for sure.

I've sat in the court room and seen people lie threw their teeth to get out of jury duty, It's actually quite disgusting. Once I heard a person even say they were a racists to get out of a murder trial.

Answer 3

Names are randomly chosen every year. Every year your name has an equal chance of being selected and you could receive a jury summons every year. Only persons aged 70 or older who choose not to serve and disabled individuals who have provided a letter from a licensed physician indicating that they are permanently unable to serve jury duty may be permanently disqualified. There are no other permanent records of disqualification or hardship excuses granted, so you must ask to be disqualified each time you receive a summons.

Answer 4

Jury duty is every three years. Every time you get called for Jury duty and you get a slip saying you were in the jury pool two weeks after your service. Mail that in and they should look at that you been called too much.

Answer 5

The same thing keeps happening to me! (Please see my question posted right before yours so you understand my situation.)

I had a Dr.'s excuse once & it only kept them away for a year. And it was from a psychiatrist who said I was mentally unstable to serve on a jury!!! Guess they don't care if you're crazy. In other words I've tried everything. Now I'm getting recalled on a monthly basis. I get excused then recalled almost immediately. Please feel free to email me, I'm in the same situation.

It's not like we're skipping out on Civil Duty blah blah blah forget that crap WE HAVE SERVED & more than once! I hear ya & feel the frustration & stress this is causing.

Oh & I have a client who used his vacation as an excuse & they excused him.

Answer 6

This sounds terrible, but when you are interviewed, wear a shirt with a loud political statement (even a God Bless America T-shirt). You'll seem set in your opinions and biased. I assume they will ask you questions. Answer in a narrow-minded fashion. Don't pretend you're racist or anything. Just make yourself seem like the last person they would want serving on a jury.

Answer 7

In my state you can be called every 6 months and if you have served on a jury, you can be excused for up to a year.

Answer 8

If in UK see the court officer responsible and make your point to them. They can be very helpful if you are absolutely honest and reasonable with them. Do not get on your high horse a quiet conversation should do the trick for a while. Remember they know the rule book a lot better than you and the loopholes within it Good luck you may well succeed. If in UK make sure your name is second in your household

Answer 9

I just started my jury duty today in Tennessee for a 2 week stint. TN pays jurors some of the lowest jury pay in the nation ($11 a day). I would find any way to back up the notion that serving on jury duty will be a financial burden to you. I don't know how understanding they are in your locality, but if you keep getting called, I would stop voting in elections until your registration is purged.

Answer 10

Move to Tennessee. Here, once you serve, they cannot call you again for at least two years. Contrary to the other Tennessean who posted here, they do not call people up based on voter registration. In this state it is based on one's driver's license. Also in this state, self-employed people can get exempted if it interferes.