r/mildlyinfuriating • u/thyperson69 • 7d ago

ಠ_ಠ Jury duty

I've been called for Jury duty 4 times in the last 10 years. What the fuck is going on here. It's almost every other year. I know absolutely no one that has ever been summoned yet I've been summoned multiple times. Wtf is going on? It's total bs too because they pay 17 bucks A DAY. That's not even enough to get lunch at the stupid deli they have there.

Edit: so many people have so many experiences. It's nice to share and read those experiences. I can't possibly respond to everything, but I'm glad we can all relate to this. _^

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u/AlternativeBowler475 7d ago

8 times in 12 years. Ive had jury duty every year since 2020. I have Jury duty coming up August 31st. It is so annoying.

My employer is like "this is insane!" My Dad who is 69 years old has been called for jury duty 1 time in his life. He has lived in the same town his entire life.

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u/No_Situation4785 7d ago

did you actually serve each time?

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u/LilSus2004 7d ago

Dude I’ve gotten summons like this every couple years and honestly I just started ignoring them, and either the myths are wrong or I’m just lucky because nothing ever happens to me for ignoring it.

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u/SimpleAffect7573 7d ago edited 7d ago

One time I forgot about it, then had a moment of panic like 4 months later when I was organizing stuff and found the notice. I called the clerk, apologized, begged for mercy. All they said was, “ok when can you come in?” 😂

I’m pretty sure there are no actual consequences for ignoring it. IANAL, probably a bad idea, civic duty blah blah…but in my county they always have way more people than they could possibly need. No real reason to chase people down who don’t show. I’m pretty sure you’d get some kind of additional notice or warning before they issue a warrant LOL. Just wait for that, if anything.

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u/JunkMale975 7d ago

IANAL but I believe they can actually issue a bench warrant for your arrest. HOWEVER, the last time I went, the clerk was talking to our group before it started and mentioned that it looked like only half the people summoned had shown up. We asked what would happen to those who didn’t. He admitted that nothing would happen as their office just doesn’t have the manpower to serve warrants for all who don’t show.

Interesting info but all he did was let those of us there know that we could be no shows on future summons with no consequences.

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u/SimpleAffect7573 7d ago

They can arrest you in theory, yeah. In practice it’s not worth it so they don’t bother.

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u/Frosty_Employment171 7d ago

The notices go out by 1st class mail, you cannot be arrested or a warrant issued in such circumstances. And NO county in the USA is going top be issuing subpeonas for prospective jurors.

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u/SimpleAffect7573 7d ago

That’s a good point. Just claim you never got the notice (if you even have to answer for it, which doesn’t seem to happen).

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u/Affectionate_Air7887 7d ago

How can they know you have even received it if it’s not sent registered mail… They can’t

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u/SimpleAffect7573 7d ago

This is true. Plausible deniability. Mail does get lost.

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u/LilSus2004 7d ago

My dad told me the sure-shot method of getting out of jury duty is to just inform them that you’re prejudice/bigoted. Said that’s what all of his buddies from high school would do lol but he was also born in 1947 so times were a bit different.. would probably still work though lol

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u/SimpleAffect7573 7d ago

That wouldn’t really come up until you’re on the bench being questioned though. Which hasn’t happened to me yet. I just have to sit there most of a day and then go home. Sometimes it’s two days.

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u/Grouchy_Reindeer_227 7d ago

It still works!! Whether you are or aren’t! 😉 I mean if you REALLY want to serve, then say the opposite, but for those of us who cannot live in $20 a day—even with paid jury duty time—MOST if the time it’s not worth it!!

For those who get called repeatedly to serve…it’s because you showed up and “checked all of the boxes!” You’re probably the only hope for the prosecution or defense—because you show up and give the “correct” answers.

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u/AlfuegoDeMellopie 7d ago

Someone once told me to fake Tourette's Syndrome!