'Failure to Respond to Summons for Jury Service'

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Some help requested please. A few years ago, I received a summons to jury duty. I deferred. I received another notice. I had all intentions of going, but I didn't wake up on time, or was it that I had confused the dates, and thought I was to go on a Friday, when it was Thursday? Two years pass and I don't hear anything. Yesterday I receive in the mail a scary notice:

'Notice of non-Compliance'
'Failure to Respond to Summons for Juty Duty'

'Willful disregard of a jury summons subjects you to non-compliance proceedings that can result in the imposition of a civil fine of $250 and the docketing of a civil judgment against you...or a criminal contempt resulting in a fine of $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding 30 days...'

I am summoned to appear in person within the next two weeks to respond the above charge, at which time I may admit my non-compliance or request a hearing.

Obviously, I shall admit my non-compliance. What should I say? What will most likely happen?

Please don't lecture me. I know jury duty is a great gift of our modern democratic society, I just didn't happen to show up for it. What now?

They are playing hardball. Has anyone gotten to this point before? Or does anyone have any idea of what the outcome will be?

I hope it's no worse than assigning me to a trial.

― Mary (Mary), Monday, 24 May 2004 12:07 (twenty-two years ago)

Don't turn up.

― mark grout (mark grout), Monday, 24 May 2004 12:14 (twenty-two years ago)

You'll probably be fined $50 and be done with it.

― Chris 'The Velvet Bingo' V (Chris V), Monday, 24 May 2004 12:15 (twenty-two years ago)

You better hope McCoy doesn't end up with your case. That guy is always requesting remand.

― martin m. (mushrush), Monday, 24 May 2004 22:17 (twenty-two years ago)

It's a fine. Just fess up and pay the $250.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 24 May 2004 23:38 (twenty-two years ago)

If it's happened before and/or you torment the judge it might be higher (or you might even get jail, but that seems unlikely--I've NEVER heard of that happening anywhere ever.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 24 May 2004 23:40 (twenty-two years ago)

yer not a lawyer, are ye?

if yer not, THEN FUCK IT.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 00:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not a lawyer.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 00:29 (twenty-two years ago)

THEN FUCK IT

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 00:41 (twenty-two years ago)

(i.e., pay the fine and don't worry about it).

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 00:41 (twenty-two years ago)

... on a check filled w/ racially-charged epithets SO THAT THEY NEVER CALL YOU FOR JURY DUTY AGAIN

(or maybe not)

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 00:43 (twenty-two years ago)

finger your accomplice

― strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 00:43 (twenty-two years ago)

that's your answer to everything

― the surface noise made by people (electricsound), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 01:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Is there any way you can say that you ha d a non-refundable air ticket? This is the best way of getting off of jury duty, but it sounds like you had already said you were available?

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 03:25 (twenty-two years ago)

Oh dear! As recommended above, admit it & pay the fine. I'm sure it wont be too much. best of luck lady!

― Pinkpanther (Pinkpanther), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 10:17 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah dude, you should have called the courts the day you found out you were late. i missed my last last jury summons by 3 days cos i messed up the date, i just called up and claimed that i lost the letter and didn't know the exact date (t'was true) and they just deferred me to another date.

turn up and be nice, maybe you'll even escape the fine if you are pleasant enough about it (although more likely you'll have to pay up)

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 25 May 2004 10:24 (twenty-two years ago)

three weeks pass...

The good news: no fine or imprisonment.

The bad news: mandatory weeklong service on a civil case in July.

I feel $250 richer.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 19:32 (twenty-two years ago)

Skip that one too and see what happens!

― Aaron W (Aaron W), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 19:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Ha ha, they gave me a letter that says if I skip this one then I will get fined $250 or risk imprisonment. Empty threats?

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 20:00 (twenty-two years ago)

yup, spend it in hawaii.

send them a postcard

― ken c (ken c), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 20:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Just make sure your write a very civil postcard - no vulgarity or profanity. Tell them you are judging the beauty of the South Pacific but you can't find the bailiff. Send them the bill saying, "You said it was mandatory." Ask them for a deferrment for the Fiji trip, saying you can't take any more time off from work.

― Michael White (Hereward), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 20:43 (twenty-two years ago)

Book a non-refundable trip to Yosemite. Then you'll get off.

I know!

― AdamL :') (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 20:49 (twenty-two years ago)

Michael, that is very funny and you made me ROFFLE!

― gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 20:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Yosemite!

― AdamL :') (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 20:56 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.seeing-stars.com/Images/slides/Musso&Frank(small).JPG

― AdamL :') (nordicskilla), Tuesday, 15 June 2004 20:58 (twenty-two years ago)

five years pass...

my husband got a jury duty summons a few weeks ago, promptly forgot all about it until i reminded him last night... and it's for this week. problem is, we're flying (or supposed to be) out to chicago on thursday and not returning till next tuesday.

he called today and doesn't have to appear tomorrow. he has to call again tomorrow to see if he needs to appear on wednesday. the website says they will not take 'excuses' of any sort without a minimum of 6 days notice.

any advice? (we're in california)

if he doesn't get called in on wednesday, should we cancel our trip (and lose the airfare + deal with the wrath of my mother-in-law, since our wedding shower/thanksgiving/hanukkah/30th b'day celebrations are all taking place this weekend), or should we risk it?

apparently it's a $1500 fine and/OR up to 30 days in prison. but how likely is that?

― DAN P3RRY MAD AT GRANDMA (just1n3), Tuesday, 24 November 2009 03:02 (sixteen years ago)

It varies from state-to-state, but in at least some states you can ask for a deferment. Check the back of the summons to see if that option is available in California.

― Daniel, Esq., Tuesday, 24 November 2009 03:05 (sixteen years ago)

they wouldn't normally have people on juries over thanksgiving and the friday after, would they?

― circles, Tuesday, 24 November 2009 03:11 (sixteen years ago)

Oh crap, I havent updated my electoral roll address in YEARS and I live in fear that Ive been sent one of these thigns years ago and never known. But surely they'd track me down some other way?

― hulk would smash (Trayce), Tuesday, 24 November 2009 03:14 (sixteen years ago)

you can get a deferment, but you must give 6 days notice, which is the problem we're stuck with

― DAN P3RRY MAD AT GRANDMA (just1n3), Tuesday, 24 November 2009 03:19 (sixteen years ago)

did you try calling and giving an excuse anyway?

― harbl, Tuesday, 24 November 2009 03:27 (sixteen years ago)

that's what he's gonna try tomorrow - hopefully begging and pleading will work!

― DAN P3RRY MAD AT GRANDMA (just1n3), Tuesday, 24 November 2009 03:29 (sixteen years ago)

Tell 'em you've both been away and you only just got back and found the letter?

― hulk would smash (Trayce), Tuesday, 24 November 2009 03:30 (sixteen years ago)

well if you go anyway he's not going to get the $1500 fine or 30 days in jail on the first try (but IANAL)

― harbl, Tuesday, 24 November 2009 03:31 (sixteen years ago)

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