Jury Duty HELP! Ever Have This Happen?

I have gotten it several times, and I just call and talk to the recorder lady. I haven't been asked to go yet. If nothing else, then at least you'll know if you have to go or not.

Don't ignore it! I don't know about the acceptable reasons for excuse where you live but here you can be dead or in the hospital. Mothers don't get out of it either.

I have had to change the date to the following week and they were perfectly fine with that because I phoned ahead.

Do not ignore it. Big mistake. There are reasons listed on the summons that you might be able to use for an excused absence but do not ignore.

Um, answer it. You will get in trouble if you ignore it.

I got one a couple years ago and sent it in with the reasons I just couldn't serve. They let me off. If you have a valid reason they will let you off, if it is just inconvenient they will not.

Standing before a judge trying to argue your reason to ignore it. Do you think he is going to buy it was in the wrong name when you know full and well you went by the other name?

OMG! Do NOT avoid jury duty.. The court sends out a Constable here and will bring YOU into court. There can be a fine or you can be charged with contempt of court.

Here you can register online. It will ask you all of the questions that they normally ask and so sometimes you will be dismissed right away.

Other times once you get there you will fall into a group of people that have young children and so you will be dismissed.

I promise you do not want to give them any reason to come after you. The fines start to add up quickly..

Many people cannot afford to miss work, but iy is cheaper than being hit with a $250. fine and court costs for ignoring it.

Don't ignore it, call. What this means is that your name is on the list twice. They'll need to fix that.

Really, you HAVE to go, but you should also WANT to go...one of the perks of living in this country is the court system. You would want it to be there for you and yours, heaven forbid.

Don't ignore a jury summons no matter what name it showed up in. It's still you. It doesn't matter if you can't afford to take the day or not, it's your civic duty. So call the phone number on the summons and follow the directions. If you have to show up, then you show up and your job will have to be understanding. It's the law and you're required to show and they have to accommodate.

You can call the number provided and ask for a one time extension, if it's just this particular month or day that won't work for you.

In the interim, correct the DMV records and court records regarding your name.

This is all of our civic duty in this country. And honestly it's not really your wrong name, just a former name. I think that's an easy mistake.

I would call the court and notify them of the error and see what their response is.

It doesn't matter if you can afford to take the day off work. It is your civic duty. You can also be held in contempt of court for not appearing. What if everyone who received a summons just chose to ignore it?

I would show up and I would certainly not ignore the summons.

Sometimes you have an option to change a date, 1 time only. At least call and see if you can do that.

What if everyone who received a summons was "too busy" for civic duty. Turn the tables around, what if you needed a jury and everyone was "too busy".

MOST of the time around here, you know the night before if you are to show up or not.

Actually, I served on a 4 day case and I learned a great deal about our system. It was a very rewarding experience.

Don't ignore it becuaase if you do, rest assured it will come back to bite you in the rear at the worst of times!

I think you should go. Check with your employer - a lot of employer's pay regular pay when you have to go for jury duty if you turn over the check you got from the court for jury service.

In my county, they will let you request to be excused for valid reasons, I think 3 times. However, you will be on the rotating list and your name will just keep coming back up and you will receive summons.
The best way to deflect the whole thing is to just show up and get it over with.
Often, there is a number for you to call the night before because sometimes the case doesn't proceed and the jury isn't needed after all.
But, I would NEVER just ignore a jury summons, even if it's addressed to your maiden name. YOU know who they mean....

Call the number of the court on the summons and let them know they have your wrong last name. While you're at it, ask about what happens if you just ignore the summons.

Best wishes.

Yes, you have to answer it. I would call the number on the card and discuss it with them....

Yes, simply contact them.
Do you have to fill out a questionnaire 1st? I did. And I could do it online.
They were really awesome about it!
Excused me w/in hours!
I hope you have the same experience.

DO NOT EVER ignore a jury summons.

here in VA - you call 24 hours prior to your date and it will tell you if you have been selected or not....

Call the DMV to ensure your voter registration card and drivers license match your correct name. Heck - you might even need to go to the Social Security Administration office with your marriage license to ensure you have the right name there as well....never ever ignore a summons.

three or four months ago I received a notice for jury service. I was unable to attend on that date. I returned the form listing a future date. I wasn't able to go on that date. I don't remember why. I sent in the form asking for a different date. My grandson was ill on that date and I called in to say I couldn't attend and they said, "OK, thank you for calling. We'll take your name off the list." So I'm free of jury duty until the next time they go down the new list.

I would love to serve on a jury and I would make a bigger effort to go if I thought there would be a chance to serve for a trial. I'm a retired police officer and have reported for jury duty several times and never been allowed to serve.

It used to be that I had to sit in the jury room in a hard back chair the whole day. Now they excuse a large number of people once they've reported. They know how many jurists they need for the day and excuse the rest.

So, send the form back in and say you can't serve on this date. The form may ask you to list a date on which you can serve. You can then ask to be excused again. You may be able to get out of going down for a few months. However, you will continue to get served a Notice to Report for Jury Service until you do serve.

I urge you to serve. It is most likely only going to be for one day and it's a great experience. You will see our justice system in action and have a greater appreciation for living in the U.S.

BTW: Your notice does not have a wrong name. It just has a name that you are not using at present. Your maiden name is always a part of your legal identity.

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Look at the forms carefully. Mine had a spot to list why I might not be able to serve. Primary caregiver for children was one option. I checked it, put the forms in the mail back and was done with it. Never heard back.

Unfortunately, if yours doesn't have that on the forms, you're stuck. You have to go.

You may have to lose one day of work. Most courts will not accecpt a written letter so no matter what you should be there in person. Most likely they will excuse you, since the name is incorrect.
I would try to call the clerk and ask about the name being wrong, maybe you don't have to go at all. I would not just let it go, just in case.

Do you qualify for any of the exemptions? If so, claim that and send it back to them. As far as them having your maiden name doesn't matter since it is you. I think they go by your driver's license number anyways.

My cousin in Chicago would tell you that he has ignored all jury summons for the last 20 yrs. (and nothing has happened) Not that I am saying you should do that by any means. :) (epsecially since every county is different) Every time I have been summoned, I call the number the night before and somehow, I miss the cut off numbers and don't need to go. Have you received any summons under your married name? I would call them and ask what the proper procedure is for this. They will instruct you what to do next. Who knows, maybe they will excuse you while they process your info? Good luck.....

If you have kids, on the back of the card it has reasons you can NOT attend. I check that and mail it back in. No problem. The name change probably because you changed your drivers license but not your voters registration. Also on one that my son got recently, it had a number to call the day before to make sure they were still considering have people come in. You called and recording said if you are juror number blah blah you have been dismissed.
D.

Go ahead and write a letter to the Court with your updated name change and ask for an excuse to not be on the jury selection. You'll have to give a detailed answer as to why you want to be excused. Since you cannot afford it financially to be off of work, you can tell them that it will create financial difficulties because you have to provide for your children. They will most likely excuse you. Do not ignore the summons. I believe you can get into legal trouble for that.

EDIT: Our courts here in AZ WILL accept a letter. It states on the summons that if you need to be excused you 'have' to write a letter explaining why you want to be excused. Check your summons and read everything on it. It will direct you as to how they want you to proceed if you need to submit an excuse.

When I was summoned I had me fill out a questioner and had a phone number I could call. If there is a number try calling and seeing if there is anything you can do. At the time I was 7 months pregnant and the trial was supposed to go on for 3 months. I was also morningmsick the whole time I was pregnant so I go dismissed within 15 minutes.

Hi Mrs A., yes I have, they have know way of knowing or proving you received it, what I do I send them back in and make myself sound so crazy they would not want me on the jury. J.