Jury Duty

[wdmmom]

Lucky ol' me got notice in the mail on Saturday that I've been selected for jury duty!

I requested a deferral but it specifically said that hardship referrals would not be approved.

I specifically stated that I am a self employed in-home daycare provider. I care for up to 6 children and jury duty would not only cause a financial hardship for me but it would be strenuous on my family as well as my employment.

Of course no one at the courthouse will say anything other than call the Friday before you are suppose to appear and we'll tell you if you need to be here!

That surely gives me a lot of time to give to my families! I emailed them all notice today that said I may need a week off (which i will take unpaid) and that they should attempt to make arrangements in the event I am required to appear.

I don't like not being able to give my families a definitive, YES, I need the week off or NO I don't.

Has anyone else been chosen for jury duty? How did your families handle it?

[sharlan]

I get called every 3 yrs. I always fill out the questionaire stating that I care for children who have no other care. I've been excused every time. I would like to serve, but it would be hard on all of my parents.

[Crazy8]

I've always gotten out of doing it. I just put that I run a state certified home daycare and have 5 families depending on me, blah blah blah.

[Country Kids]

Just last summer! I put my families on alert the moment I received it. I was excused but not till after going through the whole process in the courtroom with the lawerys and all.

Of course, it didn't help one of my parents is actually the jury cordinator, one is a fireman (the case was arson) and my husbands works for the court. It was actually funny when they were asking my background and I told them the above. The look on the lawyers face was like "Wow, nothing like getting the one that knows someone involved in all aspects of this case"::

[littlemommy]

I was chosen last summer. I didn't try to get out of it...I was actually excited to go! The case took 4 1/2 days. My daycare families were all understanding and had backup available. It was nice to have adult interaction during the week!

[MyAngels]

Every time I get the questionaire in the mail I just put that I used to work for a plaintiff's attorney (true) and I never get called. I guess they think I'd be biased .

[saved4always]

I was called a couple years ago but I sent a letter stating that I have my own business and that I could very well lose my income if I was not there since it is only me here, no assistant. I was especially worried about it because I had 3 new teacher families all starting the week I was going to have to go. It was the end of August and school year was starting. These families had no history with me so I was afraid they would all just find alternate care. In the end, I was excused because it would have been a hardship to my families and my business.

[Unregistered]

My husband got picked before Christmas and couldn't get out of it BUT he said being a "primary caregiver" is an excuse (at least here in Canada). Being self employed and not getting paid by an employer are also legitimate excuses. One of the women who got selected came the next day with a note from her employer saying he wouldn't pay her and she got excused.

It doesn't make sense that you would have to serve if it meant losing your job.

Good luck

[DCBlessings27]

Jury Duty

I got a notice last year for jury duty. It was just a letter that said to call in to see if I needed to report. I let all of my families know as soon as I got it that they might need to have someone on call. Luckily, I just called in a couple days and didn't have to report. I've only ever gotten letters to call, so I'm not sure if I could have sent anything in saying that I had children depending on me.

[Cat Herder]

I support the death penalty, RICO Act and am a member of the NRA.

I never get selected.

[itlw8]

I always have been excused. I just explain I am a licensed childcare provider and work alone. The parents of 10 children will all have to take off work for each day I need to serve . OR If I am able to find a substitute approved by the state it will cost me a minimum of $100 a day to pay that person so I may serve.

[Solandia]

I had to go in for jury duty a couple years ago. It was a pain in the rear. Our county is super strict, and absolutely will not excuse anyone ahead of time.

So, me having one infant, being pg, being a daycare provider, homeschooling my 8yo, and huge financial hardship (I was doing full time daycare at the time, I lost over $600 that week), and no car at the time, either....didn't get excused.

The way our county works jury duty, is that you have to call in each night before court to see if you are called in. If you get called in, you wait to see if you get selected for a jury. Usually out by noon, unless you get on a jury. So, it isn't like on Sunday night you find out if you get called in or not...every night is a new chance. If you ignore the summons, or bring your kids in with you to make a point...you get an automatic bench warrant. Nice, huh?

My dcparents were good with it, they all found back up care. My dh couldn't take the week off work for *maybe* me getting called in to court. One mom was a student, and I had to have her drive my butt to the courthouse & back b/c I didn't have a car. I had to split my kids up for different people to watch them, b/c not one person could take all of them.

[Unregistered]

Logged out, just in case. My husband and I owned the commissary at the county jail for 17 years. The defendants in most cases were our customers--the source of our income. We knew most of them by their first names, and in some cases, their daddies had been our customers.

It never got us out of jury duty. In the end, it was never more than just a morning to not be picked, but even that cost us several hundred dollars in lost sales for the day. And the inmates didn't get their commissary. Didn't matter a whit to the court.

[wdmmom]

I only have 1 family that is being kind of a pain about it. They want to know if they have to pay if I don't have to go and they make other arrangements. (Well, of course!) If I am working, I get paid.

The court house isn't being helpful. I have requested the deferral and excusal in hopes the business, the loss of income, and the hardship it puts on my children as well as my clients will be enough to have it granted. The only answer I keep getting is that the prosecutor and the defendant have until Thursday, April 5th to come up with an agreement. I will know on April 6th if I need to appear on Monday, April 9th.

I realize this doesn't give my families a lot of time, that's basically why I told them that it would be a good idea to put your backup provider on standby.

1 family is wanting me to put a deadline on when I will have an answer to close or open. I won't have the answer until April 6th. I know it's not a lot of notice, but what can I do?! It's out of my hands!

[Springdaze]

Everytime (like twice) I got out of it because of my job, the other time I got out of it because it was 3 days before my due date!