Jury Duty

Kappamd · #1 07-21-2008, 09:44 PM

I've googled for an answer to this question, but so far no luck.

Does anyone know if you can be excused from jury duty for a funeral? I'm supposed to serve on Thursday but I just found out my grandmother has passed away. The only number I was provided with is the number to call Wednesday night to see if I am supposed to come in so I don't know who to call about this.

aephi alum · #2 07-21-2008, 09:54 PM

I'm so sorry for your loss.

When I was last called for jury duty, I was given a Jury Administration phone number to call if I needed to postpone my service, needed special accommodations for disabilities, etc. If you were sent a pamphlet or letter, that number should be in there, or check your state's web site. Give them a call... hopefully, they will just ask you for an alternate date when you can serve.

KSig RC · #3 07-21-2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kappamd

I've googled for an answer to this question, but so far no luck.

Does anyone know if you can be excused from jury duty for a funeral? I'm supposed to serve on Thursday but I just found out my grandmother has passed away. The only number I was provided with is the number to call Wednesday night to see if I am supposed to come in so I don't know who to call about this.

You should call the Clerk of Court for whatever jurisdiction you're summoned by.

You'll likely be deferred to a later panel, although you could be let off completely (assuming you can provide something like an obit or funeral home letter to support your position) depending on attrition. Call, explain, and have a way to indicate the funeral is really happening (usually you can fax this, but showing up in person wouldn't hurt).

In some areas, you'll be forced to attend and explain your hardship to the judge. The Court will then decide whether your hardship excludes you from duty - in most places it will, as the Court (and the attorneys) don't want jurors who don't want to be there. Technically, however, you could be kept - it is, after all, your civic duty, and a funeral doesn't necessarily fit the "hardship" definition under the local rules of many places.

Sorry that it is so dependent on locality - c'est la vie when it comes to this kind of thing. It makes my life suck on a regular basis, but hopefully you can profit from that suckiness.

basket96 · #4 07-21-2008, 11:17 PM

My husband had an emergency during the last time he was set to be on jury duty. He phoned the # in the morning (had to wait forever to get a "live" person), explained the situation and was told to come in on the following Monday morning.

If this is the first time you are called (meaning you have not postponed it already), then they will likely be more lenient with you. You could also just not show up and show up a day or two later with explanation of why you were not there.

OR, you may be lucky and when you call the night before, you might not have to even show up!

Having said all this, I am truly sorry about your loss. How horrible to deal with jury duty during a time like this.....

Best wishes to you and your family!

pbear19 · #5 07-21-2008, 11:36 PM

Depending on the county (or the district, if it's a federal jury you are to appear on) you might find additional information on that court's website. Local courts here have a ton of info for jurors online, including phone, fax and mailing address info. You might be able to find an alternative means of contacting them beyond the phone number on your paperwork. If not, like KSig RC said, call the main line for the Clerk's office and they should be able to direct you to the person in charge of coordinating jurors. I would definitely talk with someone rather than not show up, I don't think this is one of those cases where it's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. Be sure to let them know that you would be available to be on a jury, but you just cannot be there for selection this particular week.

My deepest condolences for the loss of your grandmother.

PeppyGPhiB · #6 07-22-2008, 02:11 PM

In my county, you can defer any summons one time to a later date, no reason necessary. You pick the week, and the court sends you another notice for that week or sometime near that date. But then there's no getting out of it, you must show up. That's what I did when I was called.