I have jury duty all this week and one of my professors is being difficult.?

Question

I live in Florida and am a full time student. One of my professors is going to deduct points off my final grade for each absence per her syllabus. I have told her I will be out for jury duty and she is sticking to the syllabus. She says if I want to earn the points back I have to write a lengthy essay, otherwise the point deduction will remain. Are there any laws or anything that state you can’t be penalized for having jury duty?

Answer 1

Why not write the essay? It will help fill the long boring hours waiting to be called up and questioned. Most people take books to read. You can take some books and write the essay. And do a good job. It's true she sounds ridiculous, but pick your battles. You don't say what the class is, but maybe she will let you write about the jury system. When given lemons, make lemonade.

By the way, I don't know if you asked them for a postponement of jury service, but most jurisdictions will allow full-time students to postpone it until vacation time, just as they do teachers. If it's too late to do that this time, do it next time. It's not just about being excused from class attendance. You will also miss valuable information that you will need in order to do well in all your classes.

Answer 2

If she won't be flexible, visit with her department chair and explain your situation. If that doesn't work, go to the dean of students and try that. After that, if you still haven't gotten it resolved, I'd seek legal counsel. It's against the law to penalize academically for non-academic behavior.

Answer 3

Stop whinning and do what's right!!  There are people in worse places.  You could be in Iraq and trying to get your education on line.  Think of the myriad of things that could go wrong with that.

Try to enjoy the experience.  Maybe your essay could relay what you've learned from first hand experience of our justice system?

Good luck!!

Answer 4

Well I tried to google your issue but found nothing for students, just employees and employers.  I would say that the best to do is to call the clerk of courts, or who ever issued the jury duty notice, and ask about it. sorry i couldn't be more help

Answer 5

You have a couple of options: you can try to defer the jury duty on the grounds that you area full time student, or you can take on the professor.  I suggest talking to her department head.  There's no way she can deduct points for fulfilling your civic duty.

Answer 6

No, there's no law that pertains to your situation.  Did you ask for a deferment of your jury duty?

What's a lengthy essay?

Talk to the dean.

Answer 7

Most PROFESSORS are super LIBERALS. They (like most movie stars will say and do anything to be popular). Tell the COURT what he's doing!! TALK TO YOUR CLERK OF COURTS,,THEY'LL KNOW.

Answer 8

You should immediately go over your professor's head.  Everyone has a boss.  She is being extremely difficult and IMO she's penalizing you for something you can't help.  

I'd go over her head.  And if that doesn't work I'd go farther.  I'd even go to a member of the media.  Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper and also contact a local television station.  

But ONLY do those things if she refuses to cooperate with you.

Jury duty is a civic obligation in this country.  You are an integral part of our justice system and you're doing something honorable that most people never want to do.  You shouldn't be punished for it.