Nuthatch

This is for the pilots who come and go a lot for work..

Who has been summoned, and how did it work? Did you get out of it because of your schedule? Did you request time off for it? I am from New Mexico and just got summoned, and term of service in my area is 10 weeks, mid-June to end of August. I just don't know how that is going to happen. I am not against serving, but am based overseas and gone for 6 weeks at a time. Even if I get excused for the parts I am scheduled to be gone, planning time at home catching up from being gone is going to be a serious challenge. I realize it is different for every state, or even county or district, but just would like to hear how you guys handled it. My previous experience, I was called twice when I lived in a different state and serving wasn't a problem. I was excused after a few hours both times.

usmc-sgt

I was summoned and the judge addressed this specifically in his brief. You will NOT be dismissed because of your occupation or lack thereof. Teachers were trying it as were sole proprietor business owners.

The judges reasoning was that it needs to be a jury of your peers to be a fair system. If the only people that accept jury duty were retirees looking for something to do, it wouldn’t be a cross section of our population. You can almost always defer, but it’s kicking the can down the road.

I went for 3 days worth of selections. The judge was upfront for each one and I believe the longest he expected any trial to last was around 1-2 weeks. Most would end up being 2-4 days or so. In the end I was selected as a potential juror for one and was dismissed. The reason being it was a “slip and fall” case on ice in public outside a business. I told the judge I didn’t believe I could remain fair and impartial due to my initial judgment of the type of case. I was promptly dismissed. A few long but easy days and I was prepared to do my job if needed. Bonus is they paid me something like $13 a day.

rickair7777

My locale used to have you come in on day one, for which you got a jury timecard, and then go bck to work but be "on call" for the rest of the week. I told them them I either needed a time card for the the whole week (airlines tend to want those) or be released after the first day since I couldn't be on a trip and "on call" for the court. They hemmed and hawwed and finally released me. This went on for several years (yes I get called every year like clockwork, probably because I actually show up), before they changed to a "one day or one jury policy".

Most jurisdictions will have hardship policies, especially for long trials, ie if the loss of income will put your home in foreclosure they won't make you do a four-month trial. But that usually doesn't apply to a week or two, especially if your employer pays you (most airlines do these days).

TransWorld

Last time I was called was a civil case, two Chinese companies in the Amazon supply chain. Asked if I knew anything about China, ever visited China, know anything about Chinese culture? Yes on all accounts. I was not selected, was out before lunch the first day.

Nuthatch

Thanks for your input, guys.

AirBear

Here in CLT we would get a jury summons but you didn't know if you had to show or not until 5pm the day prior. Of course that was useless for most pilots so the airline had to get me off the trip and home the day prior just in case I had to show at 8am the next morning. I served twice from 1990's to 2000's but haven't had a summons in 10-20 years now.

Nuthatch

Yeah here in NM you call on Friday after 5pm to see if you have to report the following week, and you're on the hook for 10 weeks which seems insane. I did just hear back and I can get a 6 month postponement, so I guess I will take that and then request excuse for the time I know I'll be gone again. Then if I still have to serve for the time I'm at home at least it's not summer when I have a lot more going on.

JohnBurke

I've apparently received them while working, but never saw them; I was out of the country. I don't keep the courts updated on when I'll be gone, and I don't respond to mail or paperwork that arrives while I'm gone. Never heard another word.

rickair7777

Yeah to be honest I doubt most jurisdictions would likely follow up or issue bench warrants. I went about 20 years and never got a summons. When I finally did, and actually showed up, I've been getting one annually like clockwork. Must be on their sucker list.

But if you're inclined to blow it off, might want to ask around first just to be sure you don't have a local judge on a mission...

JohnBurke

I used the example of being out of the country. The notice might be delivered, but if I'm not there to receive it, I haven't been served. My legal obligation begins, when it can be proven that I was served. Did my landlord, or neighbor, or relative sign for something, or receive it on my behalf?

Maybe, but that doesn't prove notification, and that neighbor or relative had no legal duty to notify me. The neighbor's signature does not show that I was ever aware of the impending availability period, or jury duty. Just that an effort was made to contact me, with an inconclusive outcome.

Whether I was out of the country, or whether my mailbox and doorstep was full of poisoned snakes, or I was engaged in sacred sweat lodge rituals to get in touch with my inner teletubbie, the end result is the same.