Shops vs Jury Duty!

Uh oh!!! Got the Jury Duty letter in the mail. Welp, I don't know if this is a new way of doing things or what... I got the letter which tell me I am on stand by to call for today. So I went ahead and scheduled myself shops for next week. I need to take as many shops as possible (this IS my full time job and how I pay my bills and live). Well, I called in today as required and they did not need me today. Great! However, I was told by recording (no prior notice) that I will be on phone stand by all of next week! *STRESSSSSSS* What am I supposed to do? What would YOU do? I don't live if I don't do shops. I have had several last minute emergencies come up in the last few months and had to cancel jobs last minute while also promising to do them the following day at least. But oh what do I do with this one? Do I NOT accept shops since Jury Duty may come up anyday at the last minute or do you think the schedulers need to be understanding since it is out of my control. Open to thoughts from schedulers as well.So frazzled right now

I want to know my week's schedule!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/29/2015 01:38AM by StarIzInkd.

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I watch as the jury duty summons come around for family members, they sweat it, they call in the night before and they aren't needed. None of us have had to appear for quite a long time and even then we are very rarely selected. Chances are good that on your summons there is a number to call or an address to email or whatever to request to be excused. I would call and indicate I am going to be out of town, can they either give me a definitive date or excuse me.

What I have noted in the past is that a first time request to be excused is honored, though the chances are that we will get another notice within 6 months, which seems faster than the normal 'rotation'.

It doesn't seem fair that they can change the rules at the last minute and put you on standby. I would go ahead and schedule jobs and take my chances that schedulers would recognize that doing your civic duty is important.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a by-product. Eleanor Roosevelt

@Flash wrote:

I watch as the jury duty summons come around for family members, they sweat it, they call in the night before and they aren't needed. None of us have had to appear for quite a long time and even then we are very rarely selected. Chances are good that on your summons there is a number to call or an address to email or whatever to request to be excused. I would call and indicate I am going to be out of town, can they either give me a definitive date or excuse me.

What I have noted in the past is that a first time request to be excused is honored, though the chances are that we will get another notice within 6 months, which seems faster than the normal 'rotation'.

In California, you can call in and ask for it to be rescheduled. They'll give you a rescheduled date (usually 6 months away). Then you can plan to have no shops scheduled for that week (maybe make it the last week of a month if you can so that you can accept some last minute bonused shops in case you don't end up being on a jury).

Shopper in California's Bay Area

I would schedule shops that can be done in a range of dates. Some on Maritz and Trendsource come to mind.

Shopping across Indiana but mostly around Indianapolis.

@CaliGirl925 wrote:

@Flash wrote:

I watch as the jury duty summons come around for family members, they sweat it, they call in the night before and they aren't needed. None of us have had to appear for quite a long time and even then we are very rarely selected. Chances are good that on your summons there is a number to call or an address to email or whatever to request to be excused. I would call and indicate I am going to be out of town, can they either give me a definitive date or excuse me.

What I have noted in the past is that a first time request to be excused is honored, though the chances are that we will get another notice within 6 months, which seems faster than the normal 'rotation'.

In California, you can call in and ask for it to be rescheduled. They'll give you a rescheduled date (usually 6 months away). Then you can plan to have no shops scheduled for that week (maybe make it the last week of a month if you can so that you can accept some last minute bonused shops in case you don't end up being on a jury).

I live in Orange Co., CA. and have never had that call in option. I do know that all jurisdictions have different rules.

Where I am, when you receive your summons, there is a part on the bottom where you can ask for a postponement or make whatever legal requests to be excused is appropriate. If you are in a hardship financial situation, there is a spot for that, too, but you do have to show your situation. You can't just check it. They want the documentation. It is pretty easy to have your date pushed back, but they will continue to call on you every 18 months until you serve (and if you just postpone it due to vacation, it's quicker than that, like 6 months or so). Whatever you do, don't flake on the jury duty. That's illegal. As for the shops, a lot of postings state if you are not 100% sure you can do the shop, don't apply and I think we have to honor that if we expect them to honor what they tell us. I would read your original summons and look for details on what to do if you are unable to serve.

In Los Angeles you can ask for a change of date but you do need to be ready to do your duty when your new date comes up. I know you can write in for a change of date, and also a change of venue. Not sure if you can call as well. I have had jury duty several times in the last few years since they started the one day thing. You do need to be available to call each evening to see if you need to go in the next day. Once you go in if you are not selected then you do not have to check in the rest of the week and you are done. Since you started on a Friday your week is not over until next Thursday. You definitely will get out by 4-5 PM any day you have to go so you could try to schedule an evening shop or two if you really need to.

@KathyC wrote:

I live in Orange Co., CA. and have never had that call in option. I do know that all jurisdictions have different rules.

Is the "One Day / One Trial" program a California thing, or by jurisdiction? I think the reschedule note that I saw came with the initial summons that comes like 6 weeks or so before you have to report. You can send it in, do it online or call the number as I recall here in my county. Sandy's right that you only get one reschedule and you can't postpone a second time (at least where I live)

Shopper in California's Bay Area

Unforunately I wouldn't want to reschedule it because I was so afraid I would be called when we are going on vacation! So If they call me right now I will serve and do what I have to do. It's just a BIT unfair the way it is done now. I remember the last time I served I was given a date to report to the courts and so I would have known in advance to not plan any work that week. This being so last minute it's like gambling on myself.. do I take shops in case they DON'T need me so I can feed myself lol Just frustrating. You all gave good advice and ideas though so thank you!

I got the dreaded Jury Duty Summons Letter.

I called and tried to find a way out of it but was told I must go, as I did not have a good enough excuse to get out of it.. I went to the Jury Selection but boy was I upset! It screwed up everything for that day shop-wise and if they had selected me... I would really have been you know what out of luck!

@StarIzInkd wrote:

Unforunately I wouldn't want to reschedule it because I was so afraid I would be called when we are going on vacation! So If they call me right now I will serve and do what I have to do. It's just a BIT unfair the way it is done now. I remember the last time I served I was given a date to report to the courts and so I would have known in advance to not plan any work that week. This being so last minute it's like gambling on myself.. do I take shops in case they DON'T need me so I can feed myself lol Just frustrating. You all gave good advice and ideas though so thank you!

If you are in Calif you do get the summons weeks in advance and it is for a one week period. They give you the start date of the week. You may not report at all and whichever day that week they call you for may be your last. If you had already scheduled a vacation they would have rescheduled your jury duty (in california) so you may have phrased your request incorrectly. You need to treat the summons like a mystery shop and read all the details as soon as it is assigned! The week before a holiday is always a good time to be called as they often have very few cases scheduled. (You know the judges and lawyers do not want to miss their own holiday flights!)

@SunnyDays2 wrote:

I got the dreaded Jury Duty Summons Letter. I called and tried to find a way out of it but was told I must go, as I did not have a good enough excuse to get out of it.. I went to the Jury Selection but boy was I upset! It screwed up everything for that day shop-wise and if they had selected me... I would really have been you know what out of luck!

I dread getting that jury duty letter. I have had it twice and got picked for a jury each time. I am a great "jury" person in the view of the system and I don't have anything to use to get out of it.

Just tell'em you believe in the death penalty for everything.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/30/2015 05:14AM by Lisa4984.

I have many pre concieved prejudices I always seem to remember when jury duty comes up. Whitey innocent, Blacky guilty, miho deport em. This is of course not my true feelings just any excuse to get off.
Funny story last time I had Jury duty in NY it was a slip and fall case due to ice at a obil gas station. Well you see I know mobils rules and regulations due to having mystery shopped them and told them that and got excused.

Shopping Western NY, Northeast and Central PA, and parts of Ohio and West Virginia. Have car will travel anywhere if the monies right.

I have lived in two states, and in both I was on call for a week. The last time I received a summons, I did not have to go at all. The time before I had to appear on the third day and ended up being selected to be on the jury. The trial was two days.

On the original summons, there are instructions about what to do if you are not available for the week in question. At the courthouse, you can also explain why you cannot serve. I think self-employment is not usually acceptable, but maybe they make an exception if the trial is going to be long.

Perhaps you could just schedule one shop per day and squeeze it in after jury duty if you happen to get called?

The judge for jury selection said, "Is there anyone here who can not give a fair, impartial decision after looking at all the evidence?" One man raised his hand. The judge said, "Sir. You can't give a fair and impartial decision? He said, "No." The judge asked why? He said, "I don't know. I just don't think I can be fair as a juror." The judge said, "Dismissed!"

(she looked mad) and the guy walked out of jury selection. I bet $5 bucks he said that to get out of jury duty.

I work security and last time I got a summons I called my company and they contacted the court for hardship as they don't pay time off. Court excused me.

I'm actually sad to know that I'll never be able to serve on a jury. Nobody wants cops or retired cops on a jury.

There are two types of people in this world: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.

It's happened to me 3 times. I am in Ohio. I have sent in a letter to County Clerk of Courts (there is generally an address in the summons) explaining that I can't afford to miss work. I have been excused every single time.

I am in Ohio too and I have been called for jury duty twice. I don't know if it works the same throughout the country, but here, they are so understanding, friendly and accommodating. One time they put my service out six months, another time they excused me for each day, individually, that I had a conflict. The day I was ready to serve, the case was settled out of court and we were all relieved of duty.

But I seriously can't afford to miss work. I also can't afford the $1 per hour it costs to park in the parking garage across from the courthouse. I just wrote the letter and was not required to submit any type of proof.

In the various places I have lived, you are required to show up in person on the day you are assigned unless PROOF was sent in weeks ahead of time AND approved. Then you have to go through the whole process for most of the day. I have never been chosen for a jury usually based on the type of job I have. Pulling the self-employed/independent contractor card does not work anymore in this day of age. The single parent thing did not work either. I have my own little trick that has worked every time. I get excused but considered to have done my duty so I am not called for a few more years. I get paid a small fee for the day and I have always had my courthouse parking validated so there was no charge.

OP, I think you are stressing about this way too much. Showing up for jury duty is your obligation as a citizen of the USA. If you get picked for a jury, ask to be on an one day trial. Many of them do not even last a full day; many will plead out. You get paid for the day and you can schedule shops afterwards. Try to get shops near the courthouse if that is not your usual territory so you do not have to worry about rotations.

@Lisa4984 wrote:

Just tell'em you believe in the death penalty for everything.

I was going to say that! Just tell the selection panel "hang them all!!"

Hmmm maybe I'm not the best example of civic duty...

@LJ wrote:

I'm actually sad to know that I'll never be able to serve on a jury. Nobody wants cops or retired cops on a jury.

Civil trials!! You'd probably qualify for a slip and fall injury case against a business owner.

I have the opposite problem: civil cases don't want me because of my day job (not mystery shopping... the boring one

, but criminal trials are fine... I've even been on a jury once. It was fascinating. And also totally boring. Not sure how those two things are both true, but they are.

Shopper in California's Bay Area

@CaliGirl925 wrote:

It was fascinating. And also totally boring. Not sure how those two things are both true, but they are.

I think that describes MS'ing perfectly!

Maybe I would not be so disinclined to serve on a jury if it didn't involve being made to feel like a criminal. While sitting behind chain link on the smoking balcony outside the jury room, it crossed my mind the actual criminal was probably out on bail having breakfast with his loved ones while I sat in a cage drinking putrid coffee.

Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.

I had to disqualify from jury duty because I knew the accused--it was a DUI and it was my son's principal from school.

Knowing the criminal helps get you out of JD. Knowing one of the lawyers or the judge also gets you out of JD. Knowing the arresting police officer also gets you out of JD. But the judge will ask those people if they know you so you can not lie about it.

Lisa4984 HA! I don't believe we have that in New York..

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/01/2015 01:24AM by StarIzInkd.

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