Jury Duty Question

[StantonHyde]

I got my summons for Jury Service. The card says to call the Thursday night before the week you start (so that would have been July 23 for me) and there will be a message and you plug in your numbers etc. A friend went through this a month ago and that is what she did.

Well, Friday was a state holiday here. When I called the message line, I got a message for jurors serving last week (e.g. there will be no court tomorrow, you have served your term) but nothing for jurors this week. (me)

So my thought was to call tomorrow morning at 8 am and see if the recording has changed. (I have called Fri, Sat, and Sun and no change) If there is nothing on the recording, I was not going to go to the courthouse. (I did call and leave a message at another number and I will call that number again tomorrow if there is no message on the phone-in line)

Can I be held in contempt of court if the message has not been changed and thus I have no further instruction as to what I am supposed to do? e.g. do I have to drive 45 minutes to the court house (which is clear the heck on the other side of the valley) only to be told I am not needed? I am opting for calling and, if no change, not going but calling the live person line.

Ideas?

[maestramommy]

Might be too late, but I'd call in the early am. If the process in the instructions was to call, I wouldn't show up at the courthouse.

[poppy]

On the back, they usually give a list of excuses that you can mail in. If you are caring for an infant/child, they will usually exempt you from jury duty.

When in doubt, call the court clerk--hard to reach but you should go unless you're excused. Doubtful they'd do anything, at most would be a fine. But still...

[StantonHyde]

I called my friend who went last month and she said she called on a Friday (but my instructions said Thurs because of the Friday holiday) at 5:05 pm and the line was already updated with instructions for her week. I just called at 8 am and the instructions are not updated. I am going to call the clerk/jury duty person one more time and then I am going to let it go and call this evening to see if there is more info. (they update it every night to let people know who is supposed to show up the next day)

And I could probably be excused, but DH can do this s(kid care) and I feel a duty to uphold the legal process. (just please oh please let it be a short case!)

[SnuggleBuggles]

I was able to email with the clerk. Very handy. He responded very promptly.

Beth

[StantonHyde]

whew! Checked the message at 11 am today and.....no jury duty today or tomorrow (which is when DH works this week)--yahoo!! There could still be duty Weds-Fri but those days are all doable. I really want to be on a jury just for the experience (I used to be a professional team facilitator so I love watching team dynamics) I just don't want it to be for weeks :p