A question for the Legal Eagles

[diverbrian]

Help! I have a dive vacation scheduled for next month that I have been looking forward to all month. (Hey, it is warm water where I will be going!)

I got selected for jury duty next month. Is there a way to tell the judge that I would be more than happy to do it the next month, but it is extremely inconvienent this month (I know, like a judge cares or even should care about inconvienent)?

Thanks!

 

[Drew Sailbum]

Most judges are reasonable and will allow you to defer service if an undue hardship would be caused by jury service at a particular time.

Write a letter mentioning your planned trip and particularly whether you have non-refundable deposits down, or plane tickets purchased. Copies of an itenerary from a travel agent or airline website helps to document your concern. Mail that off to the clerk of court as soon as possible, and ask if you need to make a personal appearance.

Then be prepared to serve after you return.

 

[scubasean]

diverbrian once bubbled...
Help! I have a dive vacation scheduled for next month that I have been looking forward to all month. (Hey, it is warm water where I will be going!)

I got selected for jury duty next month. Is there a way to tell the judge that I would be more than happy to do it the next month, but it is extremely inconvienent this month (I know, like a judge cares or even should care about inconvienent)?

Thanks!

In California (my county anyway) we get one automatically approved deferral for personal reasons. Perhaps you have one also.

Look at the response form carefully.

Sean

 

[diverbrian]

My vacation is still on. The judge's office called me after I submitted the form today and I am officially excused for one week out of that month to go diving!

 

[brizzolatti]

So the law isn't such an ass after all! You'll enjoy you vacation all the more now when you think what you could have been doing instead!!

 

[Knavey]

Do you realize that in 16 years of eligibility to serve as a juror, I have only been called once? And my boss wrote a request for me to get out of it because I was the only guy available for the project at the time. That was many years and bosses ago, would love to do it now. Actually, I think of it more as a duty as a citizen than a problem.

I am more than willing to serve...wonder why I haven't gotten a letter!

 

[Texass]

My wife's been called up 3 times in the last 5 years. I haven't had any summons. She met a woman on her 2nd venture that said it was her 11th time.