so I missed Jury Duty

Page 3 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,450
126
ok well will it make you happier if I just said that they said to bad to late and they are sending a sqaud car over to pick me up right now?

Well, of course we do! This is ATOT, after all.

Next time, I expect a decent prison brawl story where you had to shiv a guy to survive. Don't disappoint me!
 

ioni

Senior member
Aug 3, 2009
619
11
81
Not sure if I'm glad I saw this thread. I haven't checked my mail in a month. I checked it after seeing this thread. Jury duty.
 

boomhower

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2007
7,228
19
81
Depends on the state. Here the judge will issue a show cause order. What that is is an order for you to go to court so you can tell the judge why you weren't there. Fail to show on the show cause order and they will issue a bench warrant. Some states may do a bench warrant from the start but that's a bit harsh for jury duty.
 

GoSharks

Diamond Member
Nov 29, 1999
3,053
0
76
I never received a Juror Summons the other year. Only found out about it when they sent me a second one saying that I never showed up. Was NBD and they just requested that I reschedule.
 

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
I've heard plenty of second and third hand stories about bench warrants, but I can't recall ever reading a specific case where someone was arrested for ignoring a jury duty summons.

I got summoned a couple years ago... I was in a place in my life where I couldn't afford to take a day off of work to go plead financial hardship before a judge and get excused (plus parking/commuting expenses to get to the courthouse).

so I ignored the summons... nothing bad ever happened, and I haven't gotten summoned since.
 

conehead433

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 2002
5,569
901
126
I always show up for jury duty. Of the three times I've shown up I actually received a check once. The other times I showed up I was told the court had been canceled and they would send me a check. I'm at the point where I am finding the clerk of court in contempt and just want to tell them where to stick it if they ever send me another jury duty summons.
 

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
1
81
They are going to issue a bench warrant and you will be taken to jail where you will get raped. Sucks for you.

I think you would have to be served rather than have sent a snail mail postcard.
 

Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
13,140
138
106
Well this might happen to you

http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/300516/28/Judge-makes-man-carry-sign-for-skipping-jury-duty

Crown Point, IN (WGN/CNN) - A judge in Indiana gave an unusual sentence to a man who failed to show up for jury duty.
The 22-year-old was ordered to stand in front of the courthouse in Crown Point, Indiana Monday carrying a sign reading "I failed to appear for jury duty."
Court officials did not release the man's name and he did not talk to reporters during his hour outside.
The man is scheduled to carry the sign again next Monday.
A secretary for the judge says this is the second time he has done this to someone who skipped jury duty. :D

I'd rather do this than serve on a jury. Jury duty is amazingly boring.
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
I always show up for jury duty. Of the three times I've shown up I actually received a check once. The other times I showed up I was told the court had been canceled and they would send me a check. I'm at the point where I am finding the clerk of court in contempt and just want to tell them where to stick it if they ever send me another jury duty summons.
How much is the check?

Here, the offer is $9/day plus a little bit per mile for travel. The good news: parking's discounted down to $3.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Yes... because city jails are filled with people ready to rape somebody.

I have been in a city jail (I am assuming you mean the type where you end up just overnight). I got in trouble trying to mess around with a chick during one of our several roll calls and picture taking/finger printing/pat downs/etc.

The odd thing (which I got in trouble again with debating this with them) was they chose to march out both the female and male holding cells at the same time. I didn't know you weren't allowed to just walk over and strike up some conversation while you had to wait for some desk jockey to process you.

As far as jury duty, I'd just call if it was me and tell them I didn't open the letter in time. Most of the time I have shown up for it they ask "Does anyone have anything important or a job to go too?" One benefit of the recent unemployment issue.
 

Texashiker

Lifer
Dec 18, 2010
18,811
198
106
also in the mail was another letter saying that I missed jury time and need to respond within 14 days which was yesterday. should I just call today?

When you get out of jail for contempt of court, let us now how the anal rape went.
 

conehead433

Diamond Member
Dec 4, 2002
5,569
901
126
How much is the check?

Here, the offer is $9/day plus a little bit per mile for travel. The good news: parking's discounted down to $3.

Here it's $25 per day, no travel allowance. If you show up they should pay, whether court is cancelled for some reason or not.
 

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
12,363
475
126
How much is the check?

Here, the offer is $9/day plus a little bit per mile for travel. The good news: parking's discounted down to $3.

here it was $40/day when i did it, now it's ~$34. i believe they give you half that on the day everyone shows up if you're selected.
 

LiuKangBakinPie

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2011
3,903
0
0
Avoid jury duty by claiming you're a virulent racist with an alcohol problem and attention deficit disorder. Don't overdo it, though, or you might wind up becoming a magistrate
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,921
13,926
126
www.anyf.ca
Are you in the states? With the way authorities have been acting in the past couple years, more specifically this year, I can't see it be anything but ugly.

You'll probably get your house raided and destroyed by the FBI.

On serious note, I'd just call and tell them you missed it because you don't really check your mail that often. DO NOT open the envelope. They'll probably want to see it unopened as proof. Hopefully they'll be ok with that and let you off easy.


This makes me realize how I should really read my mail more often though. I tend to let it pile up and maybe once a month I'll go through it. I've been trying to go paperless for most things that allow me to, that has helped cut down on lot of mail. Really in this day and age everything should just be email based. There should be a standard for binding a physical address or PO box to an email and someone who wants to send something to a physical address would do so through their postal website by submitting an electronic copy of the mail to the physical address. It should be a standard protocol so it works universally.
 
Last edited:

LiuKangBakinPie

Diamond Member
Jan 31, 2011
3,903
0
0
It is typically understandable for some people to forget jury duty, as the notice is usually mailed out weeks or even months prior to the scheduled court date. Thus, you should be aware that you are likely not the only person to have accidentally missed jury duty. If you have the summons, it is usually advised that you call the phone number to the court, which should be listed. If, however, you have misplaced the summons, you can typically find the phone number on the county court's website.

Let the court employee who answers know that you have missed your jury duty court date. You are likely not the first person to forget jury duty, and as long as it comes across that it was an honest mistake, the employee should be able to schedule you for a different date. Of course, make it a priority to do everything possible to remember the new date so that this does not occur again. Note that if you cannot get ahold of anyone on the phone, you should consider leaving a message with a brief explanation of what happened, as well as a number to reach you.

If, on the other hand, you ignore the summons and then neglect to contact the court, you could face legal action. For example, you may have to pay hefty fines if you ignore the initial summons, especially if you also ignore the court's attempts to contact you after you forget jury duty. If you do not call the court soon after the missed jury duty, you also face the possibility of having a warrant issued for your arrest due to contempt of court, though this is considered a rare consequence.
http://www.wisegeek.com/why-do-i-have-to-serve-jury-duty.htm
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-should-i-do-if-i-forget-jury-duty.htm
 
Last edited:

Wreckem

Diamond Member
Sep 23, 2006
9,549
1,130
126
Was it Federal Jury Duty?

If no, there probably wont be any consequences.

If yes, you might have some financially steep consequences.
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
41,596
20
81
Are you in the states? With the way authorities have been acting in the past couple years, more specifically this year, I can't see it be anything but ugly.

You'll probably get your house raided and destroyed by the FBI.
...
Now that they've made it legal to detain US citizens indefinitely without a warrant, we may never see the OP again.
 

marvdmartian

Diamond Member
Apr 12, 2002
5,444
27
91
Call them, tell them you missed the letter and would like to reschedule. It shouldn't be a problem...but make sure you take action, depending on jurisdiction you may have a bench warrant right now.

One other thing.....make certain you get the person's full name, that you speak with, and write it down on the original jury summons. That way, if something weird happens, the bench warrant isn't pulled, and they come to pick you up, you'll have that POC name to refer back to. Might keep you from spending time in jail, while waiting for a bail bondsman to show up. :eek:
 

sourceninja

Diamond Member
Mar 8, 2005
8,805
65
91
I just thought of something. If all mail is legally believed to be received by its recipient, does that mean you have a legal requirement to read your mail?