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YAJDT (Jury Duty...)

F

FleshLight

Diamond Member
So I got summoned for jury duty for the week of 3/19. That's fine and all except for 3 reasons:

1. That's finals week for me. There is no way I can reschedule 4 finals.
2. The courthouse is about a 2 hour drive each way in LA traffic (I live in orange county, the courthouse is in downtown LA). I don't even reside in LA county at the moment.
3. I have no means of getting there other than a 2+ hour commute taking 4-5 different buses and a light rail.

So how do I weasel my way out of this one? Is it possible that they'll let me do my whatever in the OC court system or reschedule for a much later date? Or am I SOL and have to go to PMITA prison/etc? I'll be giving them a call on Monday.
 
You don't need to weasel your way out of it, just postpone it to a later date. You can also get the location changed if there is a closer one.
 
Originally posted by: FleshLight
So I got summoned for jury duty for the week of 3/19. That's fine and all except for 3 reasons:

1. That's finals week for me. There is no way I can reschedule 4 finals.
2. The courthouse is about a 2 hour drive each way in LA traffic (I live in orange county, the courthouse is in downtown LA). I don't even reside in LA county at the moment.
3. I have no means of getting there other than a 2+ hour commute taking 4-5 different buses and a light rail.

So how do I weasel my way out of this one? Is it possible that they'll let me do my whatever in the OC court system or reschedule for a much later date? Or am I SOL and have to go to PMITA prison/etc? I'll be giving them a call on Monday.
Click to expand...

1. If you are a student, you are allowed to reschedule for spring break/summer
2+3. If the courthouse is more than a certain distance from your residence, you can request a transfer to one that is closer to you.
 
If you are in school tell them that and see if they will defer it. I was summoned in January a few years ago while away at college and had my summons deferred until June when I returned home (yes they called back, and yes I ended up serving). I'm not sure how far away you have to be to get the deferrment due to school though. I was several states away at the time.
 
there should be instructions on the summons regarding postponement or relocation.
 
why are you getting summoned for LA county jury duty if you reside in Orange county? I thought you had to be a resident of the county that you are summoned in.

Anyway when I got summoned ot jury duty, I wrote back that I was in school full time and worked(job did not pay for jury duty) and they let me off.

And before anyone says you should do you duty and serve, it is easy to say if you have a job that pays you while you are on jury duty. A lot of people especially students do not have the luxury of a job that pays them when they are on jury duty and live on a very tight budget. While a day might not be bad, spending a week or more on a jury could be very damaging financially and missing classes hurts as well.
 
Originally posted by: FleshLight
So I got summoned for jury duty for the week of 3/19. That's fine and all except for 3 reasons:

1. That's finals week for me. There is no way I can reschedule 4 finals.
2. The courthouse is about a 2 hour drive each way in LA traffic (I live in orange county, the courthouse is in downtown LA). I don't even reside in LA county at the moment.
3. I have no means of getting there other than a 2+ hour commute taking 4-5 different buses and a light rail.

So how do I weasel my way out of this one? Is it possible that they'll let me do my whatever in the OC court system or reschedule for a much later date? Or am I SOL and have to go to PMITA prison/etc? I'll be giving them a call on Monday.
Click to expand...

Hmm, good question...I'd start by telling them:
1. That's finals week for you, and you can't reschedule 4 finals,
2. The courthouse is 2 hours each way in LA traffic, and you don't even live in the county at the moment, and
3. You have no means of getting there other than taking 4-5 different buses and the light rail.

In short, ask for them to reschedule. And next time keep your address updated!
 
Thanks for hte replies!

The address I have on file with the DMV is within LA County so I guess that's why they sent it there. If I didn't go to my parent's home this weekend, I wouldn't have been the wiser.
 
Slightly off, but also on topic: I heard that if you aren't registered to vote then you don't have to do jury duty, but I've also heard that you are automatically signed up to be able to do it when you turn 18 like the draft. Which is it?
 
Originally posted by: Sraaz
Slightly off, but also on topic: I heard that if you aren't registered to vote then you don't have to do jury duty, but I've also heard that you are automatically signed up to be able to do it when you turn 18 like the draft. Which is it?
Click to expand...

Nope...they get your name from the voter registration lists, but not being registered to vote won't keep you off the list of potential jurors. They also get names from the DMV.
I believe there was an attempt to automatically register you to vote when you get a drivers licence, but I THINK that one failed.

OP, call the number on the form, and tell them you live in OC. As long as you can provide a permanent address there, you should be excused from having to serve in LA county. You could, if you prefer, just tell them you're a full-time student, and ask for them to postpone your service until the semester ends...but you WILL then have to do your time, (unless at that time, you tell them you've moved to OC...)
 
Originally posted by: BoomerD
Originally posted by: Sraaz
Slightly off, but also on topic: I heard that if you aren't registered to vote then you don't have to do jury duty, but I've also heard that you are automatically signed up to be able to do it when you turn 18 like the draft. Which is it?
Click to expand...

Nope...they get your name from the voter registration lists, but not being registered to vote won't keep you off the list of potential jurors. They also get names from the DMV.
Click to expand...

Does that means I'm less likely to be picked for it if I'm not a registered voter? Is it extra hassle for them?
 
Just don't show up. They won't arrest you, they'll just send you another notice for a later date. They have no proof you got the first letter in the mail.
 
I received a Jury Duty summons during finals week once when I was in college.

Called the number in the letter, explained to the person what was going on. They then had me talk to a judge, who let me reschedule.

It wasn't a problem.
 
Originally posted by: FleshLight
So I got summoned for jury duty for the week of 3/19. That's fine and all except for 3 reasons:

1. That's finals week for me. There is no way I can reschedule 4 finals.
2. The courthouse is about a 2 hour drive each way in LA traffic (I live in orange county, the courthouse is in downtown LA). I don't even reside in LA county at the moment.
3. I have no means of getting there other than a 2+ hour commute taking 4-5 different buses and a light rail.

So how do I weasel my way out of this one? Is it possible that they'll let me do my whatever in the OC court system or reschedule for a much later date? Or am I SOL and have to go to PMITA prison/etc? I'll be giving them a call on Monday.
Click to expand...

Thats the problem right there. Your too important of a person to waste his time doing some civil duty.
 
One reason you may be going to Downtown also is because federal jury duty is also held there, vs supreme court. Federal = Gov cases. I had to serve down there once for the Hilary Clinton fundraiser scandal once.

If so, they will not allow you to switch. But they do pay you roughly 65 bux a day.
 
Originally posted by: JasonK
One reason you may be going to Downtown also is because federal jury duty is also held there, vs supreme court. Federal = Gov cases. I had to serve down there once for the Hilary Clinton fundraiser scandal once.

If so, they will not allow you to switch. But they do pay you roughly 65 bux a day.
Click to expand...

$65 a day? Last time I got a summon for jury duty they estimated $100 for the whole week.
And yes, just file for deferment. My last jury duty summon was also in the middle of finals, and the Alameda County did not excuse anyone from jury duty because of transportation issues within the county.

And you might not even have to talk to a real person and be able to file deferment online.
 
As stated before, it was Federal court not a state court. Supreme/state court paid 12 bux a day here in Cali.
 
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