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Forgot to call in for jury duty

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Frydea

Bluelighter
Joined
Aug 16, 2011
Messages
183
Location
Southern California
Hey all so last month I recieved a jury duty summons. I went online and filled out what I needed to fill out, and was planning on calling this week like they instructed. Well with final exams and everything it totally slipped my mind, and I just not realized I never called. What should I do? I am planning on calling in tomorrow and explaining myself and saying I'm willing to take another time, but can they punish me for this? While searching online I kept seeing a 1500 dollar fine mentioned. Thanks for any help!
 
I wouldn't call. They will probably just forget all about you. If they do call, do you have any grounds for pretending not to speak English? That always helps. :)
 
Frydea said:
Hey all so last month I recieved a jury duty summons. I went online and filled out what I needed to fill out, and was planning on calling this week like they instructed. Well with final exams and everything it totally slipped my mind, and I just not realized I never called. What should I do? I am planning on calling in tomorrow and explaining myself and saying I'm willing to take another time, but can they punish me for this? While searching online I kept seeing a 1500 dollar fine mentioned. Thanks for any help!
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it will depend entirely on the terms of your jury duty.

i disagree with the poster above - ignoring this and pretending to not speak english if they call is a terrible idea. just call them and explain what happened.

alasdair
 
I forgot about my jury obligation once more than twenty years ago. Nowadays with all the stuff computerized they can definitely fine you. Do the right thing like alasdair said, let them know you made a mistake and want to rectify it. This way you won't have problems with them in the future.
 
As someone else said everything is computerised these days so they might come looking for you. But if you've been overwhelmed with all your final exam stuff and that, just tell them and they should be reasonable enuf to understand.
 
I see from your location that you're in California, OP. You can be held in contempt of court; most likely you would not, but if you were, say, to be pulled over for speeding, the cop runs your license and finds a bench warrant... you'd potentially be looking at an inconvenience in the form of a brief stay in custody and/or a fine.

In my county in California, a person called for jury duty can request alternate dates due to outside obligations, once. You're asked to give alternate date periods during which you are able to serve. Being a student is a valid reason to postpone your civic duty. The courts want your competent service. They're not out to interfere with your education. You just have to let the court know beforehand.

Your employer or school can't retaliate against you - if they did, it would be way more than a smack on their wrist.

I wouldn't call. They will probably just forget all about you. If they do call, do you have any grounds for pretending not to speak English? That always helps.
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Were you being sarcastic? Translators are available for those who do not speak English as their native language, so this wouldn't hold up under scrutiny.
 
Mariposa said:
Were you being sarcastic? Translators are available for those who do not speak English as their native language, so this wouldn't hold up under scrutiny.
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No, just didn't think it through. The language thing wouldn't help I guess. As for the first part, I know people who lost their notice or just blew it off and no one ever contacted them. The courts are so busy they have better things to do.

BTW, Hi Mariposa! Do you remember me? We were supposed to meet up about 3 years ago and someone got sick or something so we never did, then I left BL for a few years and just recently came back.
 
abracadabra girl said:
No, just didn't think it through. The language thing wouldn't help I guess. As for the first part, I know people who lost their notice or just blew it off and no one ever contacted them. The courts are so busy they have better things to do.

BTW, Hi Mariposa! Do you remember me? We were supposed to meet up about 3 years ago and someone got sick or something so we never did, then I left BL for a few years and just recently came back.
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I do remember you! I'll send you a PM. Good to see you back here.

The courts are indeed busy, jury evaders aren't exactly a priority for law enforcement. It bothers me, though, that jury service is looked at as an inconvenience by so many. My work would maintain me at full pay, and if I were still in school full-time, my professors wouldn't be able to dock my grades legally. I know that is not the situation for everyone. I believe everyone's entitled to a fair trial with jurors who aren't pissed off at having to be there.
 
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