how do I get out of Jury duty?

Question

any suggestions?

Zymu:

the legal system is a joke....ask the Golmans for proof....besides, when can we expect to see, say, Jen Anistan or brad pitt to serve on a jury?

Answer 1

Not a good idea, someone tried that once and is now going to spend time in jail for it.

Answer 2

While Jury Duty can be "inconvenient" and "bothersome", it is a civic duty and can be educational. Until you have been in a jury, you can't really say you know how the judicial system works. Granted our system isn't the best, but it's better than most legal systems in the world today. If you're serious about ditching jury duty, you better have a legitimate, logical reason.
If being on a jury would be a finanical burden, make sure you have proof to back it up or be sincere during the picks and say, "I don't believe that our justice system is fair," you MIGHT be excused. And some advice for you: Never compare yourself to others, especially movie stars. Whether their situation is legit or not, you and your life is different from someone like Brad Pitt.

Answer 3

There is a difference between answering a summons for jury duty and actually being chosen to serve on a jury. The summons for duty is a legal order for you to appear. Usually, you must show up. There are some valid reasons why you might be allowed not to show. Examples: disability (deaf, immobile, mental instability -- you may be required to show medical proof of your condition.) Another possible excuse -- sole caretaker of someone requiring constant personal attention. Again, be prepared to show proof. If you had a firm commitment to be elsewhere (i.e. -- a business conference out of town, tickets and reservations already paid for before you got the summons), you might be excused. This happend to me twice when I was away in the Army. (Including when I was in Viet Nam. I wanted badly to go do my civic duty back home, but the Colonel wouldn't let me. He wrote a letter to the court.) Contact the Clerk of the Court well in advance of your jury date to see if you have a legitimate excuse.

Many locales summon more jurors than will actually be needed. In my area, your summons includes your group number. The day before you are supposed to appear, you can call the number on the summons and get a recording letting you know whether or not your particular group actually has to show up. Last time I got a jury duty summons, my group was never actually called in the four times it was due to serve.

If you do show up, there is no guarantee that you will actually be empaneled on a jury. Probably, the judge will call in your group and ask a series of questions, such as, "do you know the defendent?" Some potential jurors will be excused. Then the prosecutor and the defense counsel will ask questions, such as "Are you a police officer or related to a police officer?" Some more jurors will be excused. In some cases, the two attorneys will also have the ability to preemptatorially remove a limited number of potential jurors for any reason they want. For example, if the charge is DWI, the defense may not want Mormons on the jury. Once the process is complete, the original summoned group will be reduced to the jury plus possibly a couple of alternate jurors. Everybody else is dismissed and the trial starts.

Do not pay any attention to -- or try -- smartass ideas to lie your way out of jury duty. The judge has heard them all, is very unlikely to be amused, and can hammer you with contempt of court jail time. Do not fail to answer the summons to show up if you have not been previously excused. That's a crime; a warrant for your arrest will probably be issued.

Answer 4

I reported for jury duty and they sent me into a case where this guy was being tried for driving without a licence. They told us that we couldn't consider any mitigation circumstance's and then they asked if we had any questions. I raised my hand and asked why is this a trial,and they gave me the schpiel about everyone deserving a trial. I said well either the guy was driving or he wasn't and he either had a licence or he didn't, am I missing something? They excused me. Wasted half a day though. You're right, the justice system's a frickin' joke!!!!!!

Answer 5

At the voir dire (that's when the lawyers are asking all the questions), make it known that you are aware of the jury's power to nullify bad law, and that you will use that power if you disagree with the law. Prosecutors hate that and will dismiss you from the jury pool immediately.

Answer 6

You tell the Prosecutor that you will find for the defendant even if he admits in open court to grabbing a little boy on the way out of the Kmart that he just committed mass murder in while plotting with Osama to kill the President!! That should get you sent home in a hurry!! ;)

Answer 7

I was picked for jury duty a while back & the trial was to take place the same time as the Moose Hunt. In my part of Canada we have a 3 day Moose Hunt the last weekend in September & we pay to put our name in the draw. I was lucky my name was drawn. I went to see the Sheriff & explained that I wanted to go Moose hunting. He understood how hard it is to get your name drawn & my husband & I hadn't had our names drawn for a few years. To make a long story short__I went Moose hunting & didn't have to do jury duty. Unfortunately after three days of hard hunting we didn't get a moose.

Answer 8

You can postpone it once for a valid reason but you have to appear or there could be a charge levied against you. Just do it. In my state, once you go, you don't have to appear for 8 years. Get it overwith.

Answer 9

The legal system is a joke because smart people aviod serving.

Answer 10

well you could wear your underwear on the outside of your pants.. and wear clownmake up and a wig.. oh and a fun tie ofcourse this could also get you thrown in the nuthouse too