Jury Duty at 35+ weeks

WinniethePoohsPants · February 2016

So this morning I received a summons for jury duty for late April. I will be 34 weeks pregnant the first day I am supposed to report. So my question is, do I get a doctor's note requesting I be re-scheduled for a later date and risk being summoned again while bfing (Which I think would be even more of a hassle) Or do I just show up and hope they'll take one look at me and send me home? But if I do show up and they want me on the jury anyway how will I make sure I get enough bathroom breaks? Also, I'm a stay at home mom with a 3 yo, would I be compensated for child care? I'd love some advice on this WWYD situation...

Emztron500 · February 2016

I would just show up and tell them you would like to be excused because of your pregnancy. No way are they going to select you!

arteduc8 · February 2016

Gah, I got a jury survey in the mail a few months ago and I'm holding my breath waiting to see if they summon me. I just had jury duty 2 or 3 years ago, too. Hardly seems fair when many I people I know in this area have never been summoned. I don't have an answer for you, just sympathy that it is a sucky situation that I might also be in soon. Watching this thread to get others' opinions. Good luck!

Linsbins · February 2016

I've heard they wouldn't take you in your current state or breastfeeding as you would need too many breaks. Not sure about the payment in your state, but in CA, you only get the tiny amount they offer everyone and no way would it cover childcare. I think you can also argue financial hardship if there's no one to care for your children or if you're caring for an elderly parent.

peaceinnature · February 2016

I'm sure you would be excused. Just make a big deal about how if you get on the trial you'll need sufficient breaks and it'll have to be sure to end before your due date.

Also my mom used to be excused for not having child care when she was a SAHM with me. If I remember correctly she didn't even have to show up, she just mailed in a statement that she was a caregiver or something.

goldie987 · February 2016

I know some states exempt pregnant or breastfeeding women, I would give them a call and ask.

PBear93 · February 2016

I got a summons about a year ago and am a stay at home mom. As part of the survey I filled out before I reported I said that it would be too much of a hardship for me because we don't have child care for our daughter.

lm45678 · February 2016

I would walk in, say I'm about to pop, sorry! And leave.

I cannot imagine that they would keep you!

MynaBird · February 2016

I'd say your chances of being put on a jury in this case are very slim. Even if you get that far in the process, the judge is likely to take pity on you and dismiss you. Depending on the kind of case, too, the defense may not want a hormonal pregnant mother on the jury and might use a peremptory challenge to weed you out. (Yeah, it's sexist, but it happens.) You're better off responding to this summons than putting it off.

AmberLiz99 · February 2016

PBear93 said:

I got a summons about a year ago and am a stay at home mom. As part of the survey I filled out before I reported I said that it would be too much of a hardship for me because we don't have child care for our daughter.

This. You can opt out (at least in VA) if you are the main care taker for a child during daytime hours. I'm home with my kids and work from home at night, so I've never had to go

VikingGirl12 · February 2016

I would go. I highly doubt they'll select you, it would be risky especially if they know the case will last a long time, they won't want to lose a member of the jury and have to find a replacement (if they do that??) which would be more work on them. You may (I hope you don't) go into labor early or be on bed rest and will be excused by then anyway. I have had so many friends not be selected for the wildest of reasons.

Tawny87 · February 2016

In Colorado if you are dismissed you cannot be summoned for at least 18 months. I had a summons and appeared 6 months after having my girls. I told the judge and he gladly dismissed me.

alohasoprano · February 2016

I was summoned to jury duty at 36 weeks pregnant with DS. They did just what you said- took one look at me and dismissed. Then I didn't have to worry about it again for a while.

huskypuppy14 · February 2016

This is kind of my fear- to be selected close to my due date or soon after giving birth- at least in Massachusetts you are allowed to defer for another time within 6 months.

When I lived in Boston, I got summed 3 or 4 times. I think country wide if you had had jury duty within the last 3 years, you are automatically exempt. I had jury duty when I was still a resident of Connecticut and was not selected for a jury, but was there the whole day. So that was my time. I was summoned in Boston a year or so later, and got to be exempt since I had just done it. Then I was actually selected for a Jury in 2009. That took 5 days of my time. Then a couple years later I was summoned again, and was exempt again since I did it a couple years prior. My husband and I bought a house in 2014, but it was in another county than Boston. I got another jury summons to my Boston apartment that was forwarded to my new house. I got to be exempt then too, since I was no longer a resident of Boston. So now if I get another one I"ll have to go.

I think if I were you OP, I'd go and expect to be dismissed. Then you won't have to worry about it. The judge will ask if you have any extenuating circumstances, and I think being 35 weeks pregnant is a pretty big one!

RMR7779 · February 2016

I got one and just had to go online and say I am the primary care taker for a child under a certain age, then I didn't have to worry about getting a baby sitter just so I could show up, find parking, and tell them that exact same thing.

purplefan1 · February 2016

For sure go and get dismissed. Although, if it is a quick one day trial some of those only last an afternoon at best. I think both of the ones I have been on have only been one day fun times. But I would say go and they give every one a chance to say why they couldnt stay. Also, you get paid to be on jury duty (not much, but something) and I believe you get paid even if you dont get picked (although the amount differs). I would want to go just so they didnt turn around and call me again soon.

sapphire021 · February 2016

I was summoned at 38 weeks pregnant with my first. I sent back the survey and noted my due date, and I also called and requested to be deferred, which they granted. They even asked me when I wanted to be deferred to, so I gave them a date in the following year. They summoned me for that date but as luck would have it I never had to show up. (This was in NJ).

candicek15 · February 2016

All the PP's suggestions sound like they are reasonable, though I would still like to offer this strategy:

Image: https://i.giphy.com/FDmZjqiCsYq88.gif

vulpini · February 2016

Not sure about your state, but in CA I mark the exemption form saying I'm a full time caretaker for my son and always get excused.

WinniethePoohsPants · February 2016

vulpini said:

Not sure about your state, but in CA I mark the exemption form saying I'm a full time caretaker for my son and always get excused.

I'm in NJ, so I'll have to look into that.

SweetMamaJune · February 2016

@WinniethePoohsPants I checked it out and NJ has two clauses for juror excusal that apply. One is medical condition where your OB could submit a letter and verify that you're medically unfit for jury duty and the other is not having childcare during that time.

In both cases you wouldn't have to go & be dismissed, you would just reply with the jury duty form. Best of luck!!

https://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/juryreporting/juryfqa.pdf

WinniethePoohsPants · February 2016

SweetMamaJune said:

@WinniethePoohsPants I checked it out and NJ has two clauses for juror excusal that apply. One is medical condition where your OB could submit a letter and verify that you're medically unfit for jury duty and the other is not having childcare during that time.

In both cases you wouldn't have to go & be dismissed, you would just reply with the jury duty form. Best of luck!!

https://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/juryreporting/juryfqa.pdf

Wow, thank you so much!

aloha5737 · February 2016

I just delayed mine for a year. Will say about child care next year

Want a personalized experience?

Jury Duty at 35+ weeks

Re: Jury Duty at 35+ weeks

Choose Another Board

Search Boards