Jury Duty summons but did not have to go first two days?

Question

Ok, So I received a jury duty summons and they told me to call the day before and I did not have to go today, and i called again and I don't have to go tomorrow either. What are the chances that I won't have to go at all? Wouldn't I be behind if I go Wednesday while other people probably went the days before me? Thanks.

Answer 1

They probably have enough people showing up who are being picked for the juries that yes you may not have to go.

Answer 2

I have jury duty next month myself!

They usually select and send out many more summons than jurors they really need, to be sure to have enough for any given week.  Each day they only call in (for people to go in, in person) enough people to more than cover how many they estimate they really need that one day, that's why you have to keep calling in every day.  It's kind of like a lottery number, if you're high enough, you probably won't have to go in, but if your number is close to the numbers they called in today, then it's more likely you'll be called in, in the coming days.

Whatever day they call you in, you will most likely not be "behind" because the people they call each day are mostly for *new* trials that begin that day or soon after.  Unless jurors are needed to replace some that had to be let go after trial started for some reason (rare), you and most called in the same day, will be starting in a new trial that is just getting underway.  Trials can start on any day of the week, not just Mondays.

Note that this is just from my experience, and the exact process rules may vary from one jurisdiction to another.  I've been summoned a few times, and hit just about every possibility, called every day but never had to go in, went in but didn't get chosen and just sat there for half day before getting dismissed, and actually got into a courtroom once but got dismissed by one of the lawyers.  I haven't ever had to actually serve in a trial though.