I cannot afford to take off work for jury duty...is this a valid excuse?

Question

I literally cannot afford to take off of work for jury duty...i make so little money and too many bills. I know that your work has to excuse you, but still, i cannot afford it.

The summons say to submit anything pertaining to having to miss jury duty to them in writing.

Is it worth it to explain in a letter that I need to work and make money that day. Should I attatch paystubs? bills too?

Do they take this excuse?

Answer 1

Usually that isn't going to wash as an excuse, but you can try.

Answer 2

True financial hardship can be a good reason to be dismissed but it is not a guarantee. I was given a dismissal to care for a disabled friend who had no one else. Maybe if you are really strapped for cash they won't want you sitting there distracted by your bill concerns. Write up a nice neat letter, in outline form show your income and your monthly obligations and maybe you will be dismissed. Many times jurors have to report only to be released because the case came to an out of court settlement. Most counties have to pay the jurors if they actually serve. Find out how much it pays.
Good luck with this...........

Answer 3

This is not a valid excuse... not sure how it works where you are, but in AUS, the government pays you $36 per day and your employer LEGALLY has so make up the rest (so that you're still making your full income while on jury duty).

Valid excuses are prepaid holidays, having to look after your childres and things like that...

Answer 4

Check into the policy of ur place of work in regards to jury duty. They may pay u the difference of what u receive from jury duty to make up ur normal salary. If not, u may be able to plead a hardship case with the court,especially if ur the breadwinner of ur household. With any luck u may not even be picked to serve, so it would be only the one day lost.

Answer 5

Cannot afford to take off work for jury duty is not a valid excuse.

Answer 6

I just went to jury duty, the judge said he would let you pass if you couldnt miss work, but I got paid more for doing jury then what I did for going to work. So it all depends on the judge, and think about it its a 12 or less to 56ish chance that you get picked.

Answer 7

That's up to the local judge. He can excuse you or tell you it's a privilege to serve on jury duty.
I told a judge that the system is unfair in that The court makes a very comfortable salary, the lawyers make very good salaries, and the juror makes $5 a day and he or she makes the decisions.
He still demanded I serve.

Answer 8

Your employer is supposed to honor that. Which means you should get paid. In a worse case scenario, they give you paperwork at the court house i think they give you something like 20-50 a day. but in a worse case scenario. Don't go. I know people that have been called 3 times and never went, a lot of people. plus what are they going to do? send the FBI after you? Just say you had an emergency if you do decide to blow it off. your car blew up or something because you were racing to get there on time

Answer 9

In my state that would only postpone it (about 18 months tops) . At some point you will have to serve.
One guy in my area used that excuse too many time, then flat out wrote a letter that he wasn't going to do it. They filed charges I can't remember what the charges were but I do know jail time is a possibility.

Answer 10

You should try telling them as an excuse. My company pays me my regular pay for jury duty and I turn the jury pay over to them.

Answer 11

Your plan probably will not work. Claim a health problem. You cannot hear well. Your eyes are bad. You have a bad back and cannot sit in a chair for several hours. You are taking care of a sick grandmother and you must assist her every day in the morning and late afternoon. You are suffering from depression.