I cannot afford to take off work for jury duty...is this a valid excuse?

Question

I literally cannot afford to take off of work for jury duty...i make so little money and too many bills. I know that your work has to excuse you, but still, i cannot afford it.

The summons say to submit anything pertaining to having to miss jury duty to them in writing.

Is it worth it to explain in a letter that I need to work and make money that day. Should I attatch paystubs? bills too?

Do they take this excuse?

Answer 1

No.

Answer 2

True financial hardship can be a good reason to be dismissed but it is not a guarantee. I was given a dismissal to care for a disabled friend who had no one else. Maybe if you are really strapped for cash they won't want you sitting there distracted by your bill concerns. Write up a nice neat letter, in outline form show your income and your monthly obligations and maybe you will be dismissed. Many times jurors have to report only to be released because the case came to an out of court settlement. Most counties have to pay the jurors if they actually serve. Find out how much it pays.

Good luck with this...........

Answer 3

I don't know how it works where you live but where I live you are compensated for your time and loss of income whilst on Jury Duty. I think it's about $500 a week but I'm sure you can at least mention it to them if this is not enough for you - that is, if you are assigned to an ongoing case

Answer 4

No, it isn't. However having knowledge of the particular crime, or anyone involved via media or other source legally disqualifies you. Reason: You have a bias.

Answer 5

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOUR STATE, BUT HERE IN CALIFORNIA YOU CAN GET OUT OF JUDY DUTY DUE TO HARDSHIP OF BILLS, RENT, ETC. ARE YOU MARRIED, DO YOU HAVE KIDS, LOANS, CAR PAYMENTS, ETC? IF SO THE COURT WILL GIVE YOU A BREAK FOR A WHILE. THIS WILL NOT GET YOU OUT OF JURY DUTY FOREVER. ALL OF THE VALID EXCUSES SHOULD BE LISTED ON YOUR PAPERWORK SOME WHERE. JUST SEND IN A LETTER STATING WHY YOU CAN'T LOSE A DAYS OF WORK.  DON'T BE STUPID ABOUT IT. SOME EMPLOYERS PAY FOR YOU TO GO TO JURY DUTY. YOU CAN SEND IN STRUBS, ETC, BUT I WOULD MARK OUT SOCIAL SECURTIY NUMBERS, AND ACCOUNT NUMBERS ETC. YOU DO NOT WANT TO GET YOU IDENTITY STOLLEN. DOCTORS NOTES, AND THEROPIST NOTES WORK TOO, BUT MUST BE SEVERE BACK PAIN, SEVERE DEPRESSION, CAN'T SIT LONG PERIODS OF TIME, ETC.

Answer 6

Check into the policy of ur place of work in regards to jury duty. They may pay u the difference of what u receive from jury duty to make up ur normal salary. If not, u may be able to plead a hardship case with the court,especially if ur the breadwinner of ur household. With any luck u may not even be picked to serve, so it would be only the one day lost.

Answer 7

Cannot afford to take off work for jury duty is not a valid excuse.

Answer 8

This is not a valid excuse... not sure how it works where you are, but in AUS, the government pays you $36 per day and your employer LEGALLY has so make up the rest (so that you're still making your full income while on jury duty).

Valid excuses are prepaid holidays, having to look after your childres and things like that...

Answer 9

That's up to the local judge. He can excuse you or tell you it's a privilege to serve on jury duty.

I told a judge that the system is unfair in that The court makes a very comfortable salary, the lawyers make very good salaries, and the juror makes $5 a day and he or she makes the decisions.

He still demanded I serve.

Answer 10

No

That is the price of freedom

Answer 11

Call ahead and tell them you can not take off work beacuse of financial hardship. Usually it works.

Answer 12

Your employer is supposed to honor that. Which means you should get paid. In a worse case scenario, they give you paperwork at the court house i think they give you something like 20-50 a day. but in a worse case scenario. Don't go. I know people that have been called 3 times and never went, a lot of people. plus what are they going to do? send the FBI after you? Just say you had an emergency if you do decide to blow it off. your car blew up or something because you were racing to get there on time

Answer 13

Normally you're allowed one pass. But...you WILL be put back in the pool. So, expect another letter real soon.

Answer 14

Well I am almost positive that they will not let you off with this. I do though think that it is worth explaining your situation to them. Giving evidence(paystubs, bills, ect.) would more then likely help you with convincing them that you can not take off work.

Answer 15

Usually that isn't going to wash as an excuse, but you can try.

Answer 16

In my state that would only postpone it (about 18 months tops) . At some point you will have to serve.

One guy in my area used that excuse too many time, then flat out wrote a letter that he wasn't going to do it. They filed charges I can't remember what the charges were but I do know jail time is a possibility.

Answer 17

No

They will pay your expenses including travel

Answer 18

If it's a real hardship, as opposed to a mere inconvenience, you can probably get excused.

Answer 19

Most jobs have to pay you for going to jury duty. Check with your HR person and find out.

Answer 20

Your plan probably will not work.  Claim a health problem.  You cannot hear well.  Your eyes are bad. You have a bad back and cannot sit in a chair for several hours.  You are taking care of a sick grandmother and you must assist her every day in the morning and late afternoon.  You are suffering from depression.

Answer 21

You should try telling them as an excuse. My company pays me my regular pay for jury duty and I turn the jury pay over to them.

Answer 22

I just went to jury duty, the judge said he would let you pass if you couldnt miss work, but I got paid more for doing jury then what I did for going to work.  So it all depends on the judge, and think about it its a 12 or less to 56ish chance that you get picked.