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Jury Dodgers: What really happens if you ignore your jury summons?
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Sep 2008
You know you've been tempted to do it - to toss your jury summons in the garbage and pretend it got lost in the mail. Besides, what's the worst that can happen? It's not like missing jury duty is a crime...or is it?
One person not likely to ignore another jury summons is Jermaine Dupri, CEO of So So Def Recordings. Dupri recently served a three-day jail sentence in Fayetteville, Georgia for missing jury duty in March 1999. With as much as 80 percent of the population shirking jury duty in some counties, more courts are starting to crack down.
In 2003, Massachusetts fined nearly 48,000 people $2000 each for missing jury duty, under new laws that criminalize repeat offenders. Los Angeles County has fined residents who failed to serve jury duty a total of over $940,000. New YorkCounty fined 1,443 jury dodgers in Manhattan $250 each.
Ignore your summons in Phoenix, Arizona, and a sheriff's deputy just might show up at your door. In many jurisdictions, bench warrants are issued for those failing to appear, which could lead to arrests during routine traffic stops.
Some districts choose incentives over punishment, offering cheap parking, restaurant coupons, and compensation of about $15 a day. At least seven states have redesigned their systems to reduce time spent waiting in assembly rooms. Nearly half the states are considering legislation that would provide more compensation for long trials, and Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Mississippi already have already passed such legislation.
By some estimates, as many as 25 percent of jury summons really do get lost in the mail, because of outdated or inaccurate address information, and some people do have legitimate excuses for not being able to serve, such as a handicap or illness.
Most judges however will not excuse you just because you might be missing work or school, although they may defer your service. Why? Well, by law, your employer cannot penalize you for being absent while serving jury duty, and most colleges and universities have similar policies for missing class.
The bottom line is, if you think your excuse is valid, you better show up and tell it to the judge. Judges are fed up with those who ignore their summons outright, so if you respond to yours and plead your case, the judge just might let you out of it. But if he doesn't, don't despair - you may be selected to serve on the trial of the century, and just think of the book deals! But all kidding aside, serving on any jury is better than serving time.
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Comments
Submitted by on Mar 23, 2010 - 4:21PM
I don't live in Los Angeles county, yet they still send jury notices to my parents house with my name on them. I haven't lived there for years. In fact now I live in San Diego, and LA County is still sending it to my parents house. My driver's license says San Diego, and I'm registered to vote in San Diego. What is the deal with LA County?
Submitted by on Jun 18, 2010 - 4:35PM
I should be convicted of mortgage fraud by a jury of my peers.
But I'm still free. :-)
Submitted by on Oct 2, 2010 - 7:02AM
I always ignore the first several jury summons, then finally i'll usually receive one threatening to put out a bench warrant, which is bs, none of the letters are ever certified, but just in case, then and only after i make them waste time & money mailing several letters, i'll show up. I've never been selected for a jury and probably never will, but if i ever am selected, i will definitly vote the opposite way of the rest of the jury. Or if the person is obviously guilty but a glove don't fit.......
Submitted by on Aug 14, 2012 - 7:35AM
is this true i went and taken a doctors excuse telling them im battling leukemia and they rejected it and still want me to serve and now threating to throw me in jail if i don't show up on a certain date can they do that .
Submitted by on Aug 15, 2012 - 2:02PM
Thank you for contacting LegalZoom. While we make creating legal documents easy and affordable, we unfortunately cannot give specific legal advice on this matter. However, feel free to get free legal advice on the LegalZoom Facebook page every Tuesday and Friday. Check out Free Joe: http://zoo.mn/FreeJoe.
Submitted by on Dec 5, 2010 - 9:27PM
I have certain mental attitudes and issues that should keep me off of any jury. However there is no real path to avoid being interviewed in front of a large gathering in front of a judge. I should not be forced to talk about my mental health or other medical issues to anyone. I am on 14 different medications. But even doctors letters are not accepted in our courts unless it is in full view of all. I don't like it. Frankly in any criminal case the defendant will always get a not guilty from me and accident victims will always get a huge settlement if I have any say in it at all.
Submitted by on Feb 24, 2011 - 8:36PM
I just finished serving 6 months on a grand jury. While it may sound like a 6 month nightmare it actually turned out to be very interesting. We would meet 1-2 days each month. I found out after being selected that the DA's office sends out over 400 summons for grand jury duty and less than 150 show on average. One of the jury members made the comment to the assistant DA that he wish he wouldnt have been selected. The assistant DA said "well you shouldnt have showed up then. If your not served in person there is no proof that it was delivered and we have more important things to do than chase jury dodgers"
Good thing about grand jury duty in Louisiana is that you can't be selected for regular jury duty for 5 years and you never have to do grand jury again. The DA said that if I get a summons for jury duty within 5 years just call and they will remove my name from the list.
Submitted by on Dec 21, 2011 - 11:22PM
I totally agree with this post. If you don't want to go, just don't show up. I've had a few jury summons sent to me in my day and I just threw them out every time.
Submitted by on Feb 28, 2011 - 2:22PM
This information in this article is very inaccurate. Both Teachers and Students get out of jury duty by postponing it due to school. There is no policy in place that Allows them to serve jury duty without penalty (Academic or Professional). And when you finally can go, Ignore the first summons. If they still ask you again with a warrent. Then tell them how you've got to care for your grandmother.., boom. Done.
Stop following the crowd, do your research, understand the systems in place, and make your decision. Dont ever go because all your friends say "or else they will come and Arrest you." bs, Never met one person that happened to.
Submitted by on May 11, 2011 - 7:41AM
Actually, it's quite accurate. Perhaps your state doesn't but many do.
Submitted by on Aug 15, 2012 - 4:21AM
I couldn't agree more. It's really dumb and upsetting that they force it on people like this. I've known quite a few people who say they would like to do it and think it would be interesting and yet those people NEVER get called. It should be voluntary. If I'm ever forced to do it I'm voting not guilty no matter what. I don't believe in sitting in judgment of others and there's no way I want someone going to jail because of me, I don't care what they did. It's none of my business. I think people do get in trouble sometimes for ignoring it multiple times in a row, but I strongly agree that most people who say "Oh my God, you'll go to jail" are just saying that and don't know anyone it actually happened to.
Submitted by on Mar 30, 2011 - 8:26PM
Don't register to vote and they won't summon you. Voting is a waste of time anyway. And who cares who you pick, all politicians are in it for themselves. Screw the whole system.
Submitted by on Jan 24, 2012 - 9:38AM
if only that were true. i've never registered to vote and i had jury duty yesterday. they go through the dmv too...
Submitted by on Feb 9, 2012 - 11:37AM
I live in nyc. Ive been summoned a few times. Never registered to vote
Submitted by on May 23, 2012 - 3:59PM
um registering to vote is NOT the only way they get u. im not a registered voter & neither is my husband & they sure got us cause we have Drivers licenses, they can also grab ya if you just simply have an ID card.
Submitted by on Aug 19, 2012 - 9:07AM
Not true. I have never registered to vote and i got a summons o jury duty.
Submitted by on Apr 7, 2011 - 11:03AM
If you don't vote you will still get that letter in the mail because they go by DMV records now.
Submitted by on Nov 2, 2011 - 3:51PM
These jury summons belong in one place - the trash.
This antiquated system needs to be re-vamped. Quit forcing people to do what they don't want to do. I will try to dodge this b--s like the plague. These sob's can kiss my rear.
Submitted by on Nov 26, 2011 - 3:23AM
i say their need to be a law to stop them from even send it in the mail it sould only be if you want to do it just sign up at the courthouse
becuse i get jury commission i have a disabilaty i9 cant do it at all i love staying home no stress notthing i dont want to see any pics of any thing or any one what happens if they kill me no thanking
Submitted by on Dec 30, 2011 - 7:48PM
I am not registered to vote and have not changed my license since I moved yet they still somehow found me at my new house. How can they prove the notice was even received when it is not sent certified. Just the other day someone on the next street dropped off a package for us that the mail man put in the wrong box. The addresses were not even similar.
Submitted by on Jan 31, 2012 - 11:40AM
My friend from Russia who was illegal worker got his summon to appear for a jury duty in Chicago. I had to call them to explain that he doesn't speak any English. And by the way his deportation was being pending at INS at the same time! I also got a summon with my name on it when I wasn't even a US citizen yet but a green card holder. They told me to send them a copy of my green card as a proof to be excused. I guess, they mail them to whoever has a drivers license or an ID card.
Submitted by on Jun 23, 2012 - 3:05PM
ya they wanted my dad to go and he has been dead for 5 years and had a green card, he also had a US DL
Submitted by on Feb 26, 2012 - 4:47PM
You people absolutely disgust me. "Don't register"? "Throw away the summons"? What is the matter with you? If you ever found yourself in court, I guarantee you'd be praying (regardless of your religious affiliation) that you got yourself a fair trial. You should be ashamed of yourselves for turning your backs on ANYone so easily and shamelessly.
Submitted by on Nov 15, 2012 - 5:31PM
Most people in most states do show up for jury duty. Why does a percentage of people not going to court mean my trial isn't fair? As long as each juror is fair, my trial will be fair. I'm not turning my back any any one person. They are far short of helpless without me on the jury. I'm turning my back on the government.
Submitted by on Mar 21, 2012 - 10:36PM
As far as I know, there is no law requiring anyone to open any mail addressed to them. If you do not want to read it, consider it junk mail and toss it.
Submitted by on May 11, 2012 - 12:45PM
these dam summons are as bad as getting shot I am a fulltime commercial crabber you cant leave 400 crab trabs out fishing. they have to be run ever day. you cant pick them up either you will lose your spot.and if you dont run thim, some outher crabber will for you. I hate this sh###
Submitted by on May 31, 2012 - 3:22PM
I just filled out the card that the person named on the card (me) moved overseas and left no forwarding address. That was over 10 years ago, never a summons since.
Submitted by on Jun 12, 2012 - 10:25PM
Two Words...Jury Nullification... If you think the law is BS... Not Guilty. If the man or woman is obviously suing because they are a scum bag and know they can get money of a franchise or business for spilling a hot beverage in their lap, and YOU KNOW S/HE KNEW IT WAS HOT..... Not Guilty. Jury Nullification look it up. And Watch Doug Stanhope's Jury Duty
Submitted by on Jun 23, 2012 - 2:57PM
I live in phoenix Az and I get summoned every 4 years like clockworks, is there a minimum amount of times you can get jury duty? This will be the 4th time I have gotten one, I go every time to. I have the pay letters to prove it. I have never registered to vote.
Submitted by on Jul 5, 2012 - 3:00PM
Thank you for contacting LegalZoom. While we make creating legal documents easy and affordable, we unfortunately cannot give specific legal advice on how many times a person may be called for jury duty. However, feel free to get free legal advice on the LegalZoom Facebook page every Tuesday and Friday. Check out Free Joe: http://zoo.mn/FreeJoe.
Submitted by on Feb 28, 2013 - 6:00PM
After reading some of the jury duty dodgers' post, I am apalled yet relieved. I'm appalled at your lack of interest to take an active stance in your duty to serve this country. Hopefully, you are your children are never put into a situation that calls for a jury to decide your punishment or freedom. However, I am a but relieved that those of you ignoring your jury duty request take it so lightly that you just toss it in the trash. You probably aren't a competent juror anyway- for shame!
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