How can they make my husband serve jury duty when he is the sole provider?

Question

My husband is the sole provider for myself and our three kids. He went to ask for a hardship because he is the sole provider and the judge won't excuse him. If he gets picked we will have no income for however long the trial takes this seems so unfair is there anything we can do? We live in Texas and they pay 10.00 a day.

Answer 1

Wow, it is our duty as American citizens to serve jury duty.  I think you're just being a spoiled brat.  Your husbands job has some sort of vacation time in which he will get paid, and I KNOW that Texas doesn't only et paid 10.00/day.  So quit complaining. If you're that worried, why don't you go get a job?

Answer 2

Because the law allows it.

It is his civic responsiblility.

I have served 3 times in last 4 years and I was not paid by my employer.

He can get a part time job to make up the money OR YOU could go to work.

Answer 3

if he doesn't show up for jury duty he may or may not be fined $25.00.

just don't go.

p.s. the vast majority of jury trials only last a couple of hours.

Answer 4

You could also tell him to say he thinks everyone deserves the death penalty especially since it's still an allowable sentence in Texas...even if he doesn't believe it, the other side won't want him as a juror :p If he's asked say he believes in the maximum sentence allowed for whatever crime is done no matter the circumstances. I've been summoned twice but have been able to get out of it bc i was enrolled in school thankfully.

Answer 5

Because "they" don't care.  Judges can pretty much do whatever they want.

If your husband's smart, he'll answer the jury selection questions the "right" way, and the lawyers will strike him from the jury.

Answer 6

go to a temp agency and work while he's gone.  also most jobs will give you your paid vacation while on jury duty.

Answer 7

It is your husband's obligation to serve jury duty.  Doesn't his job give him paid time off for this or could he use paid vacation or sick time?  Usually an employer will work with you on this.

Answer 8

Isn't it just dandy they make me so angry let them try it. I guess it isn't a free world of choices is it? And if they asked people to just come in no one would so they Take our free choices away and MAKE us come in.They pay less  in other states your a lucky one .

Answer 9

yes they can

tell him to drop an N-bomb during voir dire

he won't get picked then

You would have a valid get out of jury duty card if you told them you are the sole caregiver of your brood and don't have a babysitter or anyone you could call... the working stiffs have to serve.

Who's the judge, by the way?

Answer 10

When called, it is your duty to serve on a jury.  Most of the times, the company will supplement the jury pay to make it balance out.

Answer 11

Because as American citizens we are entitled to a jury of our peers.

According to your argument - anyone who is the breadwinner of a family should be excused.

What about single people like me?  If I don't work - I don't eat. Do I get to be excused too?

Now the only people left to serve on juries are the retired and those that just turned 18.  Not exactly a jury of our peers.

Jury duty does not come around often. So - once he's done with this -- he won't have to deal with it again for a very long time.

And most of the time - if  you get put on a jury - it's for a week (at the most). Very few trials last for months like the OJ trial did. That's the exception not the rule.  

Answer 12

because he is a citizen like the rest of us, and one of the duties of citizenship is jury duty.

what can you do?

live in a another country, get a second income, tough it out for a day or so, talk to the boss, and so on.

you think he will be the only one that doesn't want to be there?

Answer 13

He can't get out of it, but he can avoid being picked if he shows strong objections to matters relevant to the case.

Answer 14

nope nothing you can do.  10 a day is plenty.  Just buy 1 dollar pasta, and raman noodles for that week or whatever, you can't get out just cause u don't make enough money (unless judge exempts you, but he didn't)....so, obviously, the judge deems he makes enough that u should have some money in the bank.  Your husband SHOULD have said that he hates everyone in the world who is not him or you. that way, he would've been let off.  oh well.  

Answer 15

Each time I went for jury duty in Texas, you could be excused if you were the sole provider of childcare.  Most employers pay you when you have jury duty (at least mine did and I know of others that do also).  

Answer 16

It's a hardship for anyone to dury juty but it's a responsibility we should assume.  Someday you might need a jury to help you and wouldn't you want someone to care?

He should fulfill his responsibilities even if he goes and he's dismissed.  After the trial starts and it looks like it is going to be a long trial, he can tell the bailiff that he is having financial problems and he might get to tell it to the judge.  I've known persons to be dismissed then.  

Answer 17

Because this is a duty of citizenship.

Like the rest of us he has to do his fair share.