Every once and a while, that thin white envelope show up in the mail, imprinted in bold with the words “Jury Summons.” All of sudden, you have been handed a responsibility and obligation. You may be tempted to ignore this document, toss it in the trash, or pretend that it never reached your mailbox. After all, what’s the worst that can happen? According to one Georgia citizen, ignoring a jury summons can turn into a big deal. This man served a three-day jail sentence for throwing away his summons and refusing to call in. While that is an extreme example, the truth is that courts take ignoring a jury summons seriously.
In all 50 states, ignoring a summons is considered a crime. Massachusetts issues $2,000 fines to citizens who miss jury duty, and even more for repeat offenders. In California, residents who do not show up on their summons date can be fined up to $940,000. In Manhattan, jury dodgers are charged $250 for ignoring the summons. While each state varies in their practice, almost every state government has a method for dealing with this issue. In Arizona, ignoring a jury summons may merit you an unexpected visit from a local sheriff. Oftentimes Arizona residents are punished with a bench warrant.
While it is a crime to purposefully ignore a jury summons, it is true that many summons letters get lost in the mail. Changes of address or hiccups in the postal system keep as many as 25 percent of all jury summons from their final destination. Still, if an investigator can prove that the summons letter reached your home and was put aside, then you are subject to all sorts of unwanted punishments. Even if you respond to your summons, that is not enough. If you do not call in when you are required to, or fail to show up on the appointed date at the courthouse, you will be issued a fine.
In extreme emergencies, you should contact the clerk’s office immediately and explain why the situation supersedes your legal obligation to serve. A judge can determine whether or not your emergency is excusable, and will call a substitute juror to take your place. While threat keeps people from tossing their summons letters, some states have tried to entice citizens into serving on a jury with benefits. Certain districts across America offer cheap parking, restaurant gift cards, or compensation to lure in potential jury members. In most states the government provides additional compensation in the event of a long trial.
Some men and women have the right to forgo jury duty, but the list of exceptions is short. If you attempt to avoid jury duty because of work or classes, then you will still be charged for ignoring the order. This is because employers are legally obligated to allow you time off work for jury duty if you are called in. Almost always, your employer must pay you for at least the first five days of your jury duty. If you are a student, then your professors will have to abide by these same rules in most states. Oftentimes, a court will provide you the option to postpone your dates of service to a more convenient time, or move your service to a closer courthouse. There are often state restrictions on these customizations. For example, in California you cannot move your service date farther than six months from the original date you were given.
Even if you do have a valid excuse for missing your jury duty, such as full-time care of another individual or a physical handicap that prevents you from serving, you still need to respond to your summons. You can usually merit disqualification if you are over 70 years old, are not a US citizen, cannot speak or understand English, or have already served in the state court recently. Also, if you have been convicted of a felony within the past seven years or you are in jail, then you do not need to report. Use the phone number on the front of your packet to contact the automated voice activation system for jury service. The instructions on the system will help you to acknowledge your summons and respond accordingly. It’s best to call in immediately and obey your summons. If you are tempted to ignore the document, don’t. It’s not worth the fines and legal issues. Practice good citizenship by obeying the court and avoiding the punishments for pushing this jury duty notice aside.
