Duty of the Jury Sort

Popices

So, I'm 19 and enrolled as a full time college student (19 credits). I live in New York. Yesterday while watching some TV the nice mailman strolled up and dropped me off wonderful news: I have Jury Duty in 3 weeks. Problem: School starts in 2 weeks.

Now, my number is rather high, but I am at a total loss of what to do. Surely I can't miss school because of this (Pre-Pharm classes are somewhat difficult and I will be crushed by material if I miss a week). There is some postponement deal saying I can get my date postponed up to 6 months but no longer as long as I enclose reasoning and proof of whatever reasoning that is. Now, I would have no problem doing this, but I am kind of depending on taking summer classes if I do not get admitted into Pharmacy to catch myself up for another major.

Basically, what do I do in this situation? If I take the school day off the report to the court and show the judge proof of enrollment, will I be excused? If I send in proof of enrollment with the questionnaire I was mailed is there a chance they will push my date back to post-graduation? I am at a loss here, and the phone number they enclosed is basically a series of automated messages with seemingly no way to speak to humans. My knowledge is very limited about this, as well as everyone I know (no one I know has served prior to 25 yrs old) Help! =(

MrOletta

It might very state by state, but here in Texas it's fairly easy to get out of it in you're in school/college. You receive a postcard in the mail saying you're being summoned and (i think) you have to send it back to signify acknowledgment.

However, the boxes go something like that
[ ] Can attend
[ ] Dead
[ ] In school

It might not be so helpful to you, but I imagine it can't be terribly difficult to get out of it, so don't worry about it. Continue what you're doing - making calls, etc, and you'll be fine.

blincoln

Yeah, I'm in Washington, and have gotten out of it both times I was selected because I wrote them a letter explaining why it was next to impossible for me to do, given that I'm my own only source of income. I'd be shocked if they didn't give you a waiver since you're in school.

Ohemeffgee

In California, as I recall, school alone isnt a legit excuse to ditch jury duty. However, you can postpone/reschedule it by phone to a date up to 3 months in the future. Theres a fair chance you may have something similar, and can reschedule to your spring break sometime or something. I suggest setting it to a Friday - in my experience, the judges/courts have simply sent everyone home every Friday I've been in there rather than begin new cases.

Joseph Stalin

If you are unable to postpone it, keep in mind that you can serve it whenever. If you simply report in the morning for duty and give them your information you can get credit for serving. This allows you to serve when it's most convienient for you.

fforde

In Texas if you are in school they will let you completely off the hook. Not a postponement, you just dont have to do it. Look over the paperwork they sent you, there is probably a way to file for exemption.

Brodo Faggins

Ohemeffgee wrote:

In California, as I recall, school alone isnt a legit excuse to ditch jury duty. However, you can postpone/reschedule it by phone to a date up to 3 months in the future. Theres a fair chance you may have something similar, and can reschedule to your spring break sometime or something. I suggest setting it to a Friday - in my experience, the judges/courts have simply sent everyone home every Friday I've been in there rather than begin new cases.

Yup. I postponed to the day after Christmas, and then found out that I had to take my newly immigrated cousins everywhere, getting their immunizations, setting them up with school supplies, etc. I postponed 7 months 'til July.

Thanatos

If you can't see how to do it from what they sent you in the mail, go to your phone book, find the government section, and call the courthouse to which you've been summoned. Ask to speak to someone with Jury Services (or something similar).

supabeast

Get your student handbook out and find the phone number for the office of student affairs, the dean of students, or whatever is listed that sounds helpful and ask them how jury duty is usually handled by students in your state.

Endomatic

Don't juries usually get interviewed by both sides before a case? Or interviewed by the judge?

Just act like a racist/prejudice idiot if they do. Even if you're not. Act the part. They'll likely exclude you.

Thanatos

Endomatic wrote:

Don't juries usually get interviewed by both sides before a case? Or interviewed by the judge?

Just act like a racist/prejudice idiot if they do. Even if you're not. Act the part. They'll likely exclude you.

Advising someone to commit perjury is what we call "against the rules."

Even if this weren't a terrible idea because the judge isn't retarded, and would probably stick your ass in jail for contempt, it'd still be a terrible idea because it's illegal.

DevoutlyApathetic

Endomatic wrote:

Don't juries usually get interviewed by both sides before a case? Or interviewed by the judge?

Just act like a racist/prejudice idiot if they do. Even if you're not. Act the part. They'll likely exclude you.

That's a wonderful way to be thrown in jail for contempt of court. Lawyers and Judges, on the whole, aren't complete fucking morons so they'll notice you're clever ruse.

Edit: ...or you know, what Than said.

Endomatic

Huh. Shows what I know.

So maybe acting like that isn't a good idea, but you can be subtle, and make yourself look unattractive as a juror.

fforde

Endomatic wrote:

Don't juries usually get interviewed by both sides before a case? Or interviewed by the judge?

Just act like a racist/prejudice idiot if they do. Even if you're not. Act the part. They'll likely exclude you.

Setting aside legal issues, that defeats the whole point of this thread. Just going down there is a whole day down the drain. The odds of you getting picked are probably 1/5 or less, so to me thats not the major concern. In my mind jury duty generally means one wasted day.

Popices

Well I did some more digging around and called a few more people. I delayed my summons til summer and someone downtown that I talked to said I can always have a letter sent into the courthouse by my University if I encounter any more conflicts. Thanks for the help!