What are the consequences of missing jury duty?
04-09-2008, 11:29 PM
#45
Teching In
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
when you get the paper saying you have jury duty there is a part you have to fill out and within that part there is a box stating you are a student that you check and then mail it back and they excuse from jury duty!
04-10-2008, 12:23 AM
#46
LSxGuy widda 9sec Mustang
iTrader: (12)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Texas and Qatar
Posts: 3,043
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I went to mine in Febuary, but they didn't pic me as I felt the max sentence of 20 years was excessive for the charge of "possession of 1-4 Grams of cocaine". It was kinda neat to see the whole process up until when they picked the final 12. It sucks that I made $6 for that day, and my lunch was $6.05 so I actually lost money. I joked about that beforehand but it still was a kick to the nuts when it happened.
04-10-2008, 02:31 PM
#48
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Clear lake TX (From LaPorte)
Posts: 1,417
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
never been. They cant do jack to you unless they prove that you received the letter. That is done by certified mail, which the letters are not sent. Your neighbors kid could be making paper airplanes out of it for all you know.
04-10-2008, 03:05 PM
#49
Banned
iTrader: (8)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Houston
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
04-10-2008, 08:12 PM
#50
In Harris County they cannot do a damn thing to you by law. This comes from an attorney who is family so no BS. The letter is not certified mail so they cannot verify you ever received it or if you reside there. Basically it's a free ******* day off when I get those. Tell your employer and then that's it. I have skipped 3 so far and have been pulled over since and guess what, no warrant for my arrest.
04-11-2013, 03:49 PM
#52
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Excuses/Penalties One of the penalties for skipping out on Jury Duty for local/county trials (Grand/Petit Jurors) is that you will be Purged as a voter; meaning that your right to vote in state or federal elections will be removed/disabled. Other penalties can be fines and/or jail time.
If you really wish to not do Jury Duty, you must present a valid excuse to the County Circuit Clerk's office or Jury Administrator. You can do this by calling the courthouse or Jury Administrator that sent you the summons. Valid excuses may include:
-Military Duty
-Enrolled in school
-Over 65 years of age
-Physically/Mentally disabled
-Working/living out of state
-Currently Hospitalized
If your excuse is "working/living out of state," keep in mind that you will be purged from the voting system in the area that provided you with the jury summons, and you can no longer vote in that district, but you should be able to register to vote in the district/county/state that you're working in. But when election comes, you can only vote in the district that you're registered in.
Here are also some examples of what are NOT good excuses:
-"I have to work that day." ... Employers are obligated to release you from work to attend Jury duty, or they can face penalties.
-"I don't have any transportation." ... The judge/jury administrators will find another juror for you to ride to court with.
-"I don't want to attend." ... As a citizen, you must. Otherwise, you lose your citizen rights to vote (most common penalty), and possibly other penalties, such as fines and/or jail time.
Ultimately, it is up to the judge to determine what are valid excuses or not, as there are many different types of possible excuses. But if you do not send in your excuse, or contact your Jury Administrator or local courthouse, and also miss Jury Duty, the Judge can only assumed that you skipped intentionally. It's all about communication.
Source: Experience as a Courthouse Assistant Clerk/Administrator and experience as a Grand Juror.
If you really wish to not do Jury Duty, you must present a valid excuse to the County Circuit Clerk's office or Jury Administrator. You can do this by calling the courthouse or Jury Administrator that sent you the summons. Valid excuses may include:
-Military Duty
-Enrolled in school
-Over 65 years of age
-Physically/Mentally disabled
-Working/living out of state
-Currently Hospitalized
If your excuse is "working/living out of state," keep in mind that you will be purged from the voting system in the area that provided you with the jury summons, and you can no longer vote in that district, but you should be able to register to vote in the district/county/state that you're working in. But when election comes, you can only vote in the district that you're registered in.
Here are also some examples of what are NOT good excuses:
-"I have to work that day." ... Employers are obligated to release you from work to attend Jury duty, or they can face penalties.
-"I don't have any transportation." ... The judge/jury administrators will find another juror for you to ride to court with.
-"I don't want to attend." ... As a citizen, you must. Otherwise, you lose your citizen rights to vote (most common penalty), and possibly other penalties, such as fines and/or jail time.
Ultimately, it is up to the judge to determine what are valid excuses or not, as there are many different types of possible excuses. But if you do not send in your excuse, or contact your Jury Administrator or local courthouse, and also miss Jury Duty, the Judge can only assumed that you skipped intentionally. It's all about communication.
Source: Experience as a Courthouse Assistant Clerk/Administrator and experience as a Grand Juror.
04-12-2013, 11:02 AM
#57
Staging Lane
iTrader: (9)
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: temple tx
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I know this is an old thread, but since someone brought it back to life i was wondering if i was the only one that checked the box that says "not of sound mind or good moral character" so they didn't have to show up.
