Fish..enlighten me pls...

[Smoke]

Ok so the Kid got called for Jury duty..can you please explain to me why that system is so messed up? She's already working 2 jobs to pay the bills, why when they go after people for jury duty don't they call the people that are unemployed...like 8 or 9% that statisticly show. or senior citizens that would probably enjoy the day out. Why go after the hub of america that pay taxes for a good part that don't. She said she would get $9.00 a day...big freakin whoop!

Most people I talk to don't really want to be a juror, but I'm sure there are some that do. Also depending on the case I'm not so sure I would want a 25 year old kid determining my fate!

Would love to hear your insight on this and why they can't make a common sense change...oops "common sense" may have answered my own q. lol

[fish]

in my experience as a trial lawyer for - oh my, how long was it ... geez well over 30 years - very few folks really want to do it.

depending on your state, they use drivers licenses or voting rolls or some other list of adult citizens of the state.

we could have a very long and interesting conversation about juries and jurors.

in 30+ years i tried a lot of cases to a lot of juries and the bottom line is that it usually is a very unpleasant experience for all concerned.

not many cases that go to trial are clear cut. every honest juror has to face the fact that s/he may have made a mistake that has cost someone dear, if not ruined someone's entire life.

no body smiles in a courtroom. not even the lawyers.

[Smoke]

But when there is such a huge pool of people that don't work why go after someone that is struggling to stay afloat.

[fish]

she can ask to be excused because of financial hardship.

write to the clerk of courts asking to be excused. these letters are submitted to the judge who decides.

if not granted through mail,

ask to meet with judge &/or clerk of courts.

take a paycheck or tax return to court with copies of her recent monthly bills to establish income/expense ratio.

i assume she has no savings.

keep the documentation in the pocketbook.

make the request.

they may grant it outright.

if they question her, she can at least offer some proof.

i can't promise that their idea of hardship is reasonable, but it usually is, and judges don't want bitter jurors.

also key employees are often excused

if it is the case, have her employer draft a letter to the effect that her absence would harm the business and no temp can effectively be used.

good luck.

[Smoke]

I did give her a letter...I do 1/2 my work between sept & Dec...this is in oct so we are busy and she is the only other one in production.

[fish]

have they acted on the letter ?

did she include the financial hardship argument ?

did she make it past the clerk to the judge ?

if this stuff doesn't work, i have more, but we have to wait until the day she has to appear.

[Smoke]

She just sent it in.

She only had a letter she wrote and the one I gave her.

She was talking to someone and they said don't show up on the day your supposed to go...not sure that's a good thing to try.

[fish]

she should appear if the letter does not work.

if she did not make the economic hardship argument in her letter she should send a second letter with the economic hardship argument and maybe some expenses vs income numbers - rent, food, utilities, car payment, insurance, etc as well as her take home pay.


this really should work.

if not, let me know.

in the meantime, tell her to stop talking to people about this.

her life is not somebodyelse's soap opera and anything she says might be repeated /misrepresented.

[Smoke]

She's a Kid..what can you expect..lol

Thx for the info.

I still think they should fix the basic problem...a little check mark on the first page .." would you like to be a juror? yes or no"