Is financial hardship a legitimate reason to get out of jury duty?

[cutslikeknife]

I've just received a notice that I'm required to show up for jury duty, but I really can't afford to do it. Right now things are really tight and if I'm not doing jobs for a couple of weeks, it's going to be a huge problem. Is the financial hardship of being unemployed a legitimate reason to get excused from jury duty and what would I have to show to prove this? If it's not, what other legitimate ways could I get excused from jury duty?

[btctony]

I'm not really sure, but why would not having a job keep you from reporting for jury duty? Seems that if you are not employed, you'd have plenty of time for jury duty.

[ua_guy]

I've just received a notice that I'm required to show up for jury duty, but I really can't afford to do it. Right now things are really tight and if I'm not doing jobs for a couple of weeks, it's going to be a huge problem. Is the financial hardship of being unemployed a legitimate reason to get excused from jury duty and what would I have to show to prove this? If it's not, what other legitimate ways could I get excused from jury duty?

Financial hardship, perhaps. Jobless? Probably not. Read up on the laws in your state. It's a chance to meet other people and network, and, as I experienced, there's a lot of free time during the selection process--do some online job hunting then. You can try to "plead your case" when they're doing their selection, but that might be about it.

If nothing else, it's a civic duty. It's one of the responsibilities we as Americans already agreed to uphold.

[disneysteve]

I think that is absolutely a good reason. Honestly, I don't know how they expect anybody who isn't retired to do jury duty. I'm a professional but I get paid hourly. If I had to do jury duty, it would cost me a fortune if I got selected. Just going for the day would cost me hundreds of dollars. I guess if you work somewhere where they still pay you if you're out, that's great, but I don't think that's true for most people.

I would write a letter and explain that serving would be a financial hardship.

[disneysteve]

I'm not really sure, but why would not having a job keep you from reporting for jury duty?

Financial hardship, perhaps. Jobless? Probably not.

OP said he is doing jobs. I assume that means picking up odd work here and there when he can. If he gets stuck on a jury, he can't do that. Sounds like a hardship to me.

[cutslikeknife]

I'm not really sure, but why would not having a job keep you from reporting for jury duty? Seems that if you are not employed, you'd have plenty of time for jury duty.

I don't have a full time job, but I pick up side jobs everyday I can. It's the only way that I can make things meet at the moment until I can find a full time job. Not making anything for just a few days would be a terrible hardship at the moment. I wouldn't mind doing jury duty if my finances were a bit more stable, but I don't want to sacrifice my family's well being.

[cutslikeknife]

OP said he is doing jobs. I assume that means picking up odd work here and there when he can. If he gets stuck on a jury, he can't do that. Sounds like a hardship to me.

That's exactly my situation.

[scfr]

What you have to show will probably depend on the judge and/or the laws that govern the court where you have been called. Be prepared to show documentation of the income you have been receiving from side jobs, such as copies of where you reported that income to the unemployment office or included it on your income tax return.

[kork13]

When it comes to excusing individuals from jury duty, it is at the sole discretion of the presiding judge. As suggested by DS, I would recommend that you just write a letter to the court clerk requesting to be excused due to excessive financial hardship. Explain your situation & that while you are (presumably) totally willing to participate as a juror, the burden on your family caused by not working would create a significant financial hardship and could make it impossible for you to support your family. Keep in mind, even if the judge releases you from jury duty, you may still be required to show up at the jury selection to be officially released from jury pool in the presence of all parties to the case.

The biggest point is that when you write that letter, you are ASKING to be excused. You cannot demand excusal, because if it truly came down to it, the judge would be within his rights to issue a court order for you to serve as a juror (I believe a jury summons is considered a court order as it is).

[marvholly]

Financial hardship is NOT an acceptable excuse in Cook County, IL.

After my husband died I was called. Worked for a company that paid for only 1 day of jury duty no matter how many days it actually took. I was called for a trial expected to last 6 weeks. No income for 6 weeks = no mortgage/bill money for 2 months. NOT excused.

I did have another reason I was bounced so I was ok that time. Also, I did have savings but it would have put a serious dent in my funds.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

I don't think that where I am financial hardship is an accepted excuse. However, hardship to your employer seems to be an excuse accepted in some cases. So if you are so central to your work place that it falls apart without you, you might get an excuse, but the employer has to apply for that excuse. I think they also are asked to name a time when your crucial presence would become less crucial, so that they can send you a fresh summons.

[MonkeyMama]

In our county they are quite lenient with financial hardship excuse. My spouse gets an automatic out for being non-paid care provider for children. (Which is more of a logistical nightmare than anything else, so is very appreciated).

I've never served since spouse has been home, since am only income and would not get paid. There is a checkbox on the jury summons.

All of my co-workers have working spouses, so always have to go in when summoned. But it is common for them to immediately excuse everyone who is "not getting paid". They just let them go about when they get there. No proof necessary. That does remind me that I do need to send in a letter from my employer, with my jury excuse. But they seem extra loose about it once you show up. (I work for a small employer so it is a hardship to employer for any of us to get stuck on jury duty).

Though there are certainly many excuses that maybe aren't as common and don't meet the "checkbox" requirements, it seems the court is pretty reasonable. I wouldn't worry about it too much, but maybe we just have a lenient county. Big city and large pool of jurors??

[disneysteve]

Financial hardship is NOT an acceptable excuse in Cook County, IL.

After my husband died I was called. Worked for a company that paid for only 1 day of jury duty no matter how many days it actually took. I was called for a trial expected to last 6 weeks. No income for 6 weeks = no mortgage/bill money for 2 months. NOT excused.

This is insane. What a screwed up system we have. How can they expect anyone to just suddenly take 6 weeks of unpaid leave from work. I don't care if your spouse works or not. Every article says that 50-70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck so there's a good chance that even missing a day or two from work poses a threat to many people. Missing a week or two or six could drive some people into bankruptcy. Is jury duty really that important that it's worth someone losing their home to serve?

[bjl584]

Financial hardship is NOT an acceptable excuse in Cook County, IL.

After my husband died I was called. Worked for a company that paid for only 1 day of jury duty no matter how many days it actually took. I was called for a trial expected to last 6 weeks. No income for 6 weeks = no mortgage/bill money for 2 months. NOT excused.

I did have another reason I was bounced so I was ok that time. Also, I did have savings but it would have put a serious dent in my funds.

How hard did you try to get out of it? I did some research, and it said that if you bring several past pay stubs, a listing of your bills and debts, last year's W2, and last year's tax form, that you can submit these to the court and appeal to the judge that serving will cause undue financial hardship. 9 times out of 10 the judge will excuse you from serving.

[jeffrey]

If the financial hardship doesn't work, another legitimate way that you can try to get out is to tell the judge that you're familiar with jury nullification which will often get you excused.