JURY DUTY: Excused as self employment?
I believe you would need to claim this would be financial hardship for you and you would need to state how much income you may potentially lose per day. My husband was self employed for 30 years and they never accepted his excuse. He just didn't show up. I keep telling him one day the cops are going to come looking for you. They never did. He stopped returning the questionnaires as well. I don't recommend this!
This actually happened to me. I asked to speak with the judge privately and told him I was a shopper and did not want to state that publicly because my work depended on anonymity. But, I wasn’t trying to get out of jury duty.
Nope! It is your civic duty. I have seen judges not excuse very pregnant women, doctors, and students with finals exams. I was excused one time in a federal case because the defendant had once worked for me part time. The only other person I saw excused was non- English speaking (supposedly).
The only exemptions I have seen are if you are a caregiver without a backup, or if you are over a certain age. The rules may vary in different locales.
I wouldn't try to get out of Jury Duty, I WANT to serve on a jury. The last time I tried one of the attorneys disqualified me because I was reading a John Grisholm novel.
Which JG novel? 
Please don't feed the MSF trolls!
Feeding the MSF trolls bread or other human food is detrimental to their health and the environment. It can lead to malnutrition, disease, and behavioral problems in trolls, as well as water pollution and the spread of pests. Trolls are capable of finding their own food sources and don't require human assistance.
Feeding the MSF trolls bread or other human food is detrimental to their health and the environment. It can lead to malnutrition, disease, and behavioral problems in trolls, as well as water pollution and the spread of pests. Trolls are capable of finding their own food sources and don't require human assistance.
The only thing that pays less than MS.
@paniconmon wrote:
Which JG novel?
A Painted House.. not that the title actually matters, the attorney asked if I read a lot of John Grishom novels and I told the truth, that I had read most of them.
Sounds like a game plan for OP.
Please don't feed the MSF trolls!
Feeding the MSF trolls bread or other human food is detrimental to their health and the environment. It can lead to malnutrition, disease, and behavioral problems in trolls, as well as water pollution and the spread of pests. Trolls are capable of finding their own food sources and don't require human assistance.
Feeding the MSF trolls bread or other human food is detrimental to their health and the environment. It can lead to malnutrition, disease, and behavioral problems in trolls, as well as water pollution and the spread of pests. Trolls are capable of finding their own food sources and don't require human assistance.
I never got excused for being self employed. I worked as a merchandiser.
@Datagirl wrote:
I believe you would need to claim this would be financial hardship for you and you would need to state how much income you may potentially lose per day. My husband was self employed for 30 years and they never accepted his excuse. He just didn't show up. I keep telling him one day the cops are going to come looking for you. They never did. He stopped returning the questionnaires as well. I don't recommend this!
My mother got a jury duty summons several months after she had passed away. I tossed it in the trash.
Several weeks later a Marshall was knocking on the front door. He was there to get my mother for jury duty. I explained to him that she was deceased I had to give him a copy of her death certificate. I was told that in the future if a deceased relative got a notice to return it with a copy of a death certificate, not to ignore it and toss it out.
I have never been privvy to anyone using MS as an excusal. Is it the Grand Jury? If so, when it came down to jury selection, I witnessed 1 person being excused/rejected due to Police and law enforcement agents in their family as well as friends. He came prepared with badge numbers, names, etc.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/22/2025 04:05AM by Madetoshop.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/22/2025 04:05AM by Madetoshop.
Get religion. "I will not judge my fellow man" or whatever. But, today, who knows. That might not work anymore.
I got excused for being too pregant but it was long ago in a galaxy far away.
I got excused for being too pregant but it was long ago in a galaxy far away.
@sueac101 wrote:
@Datagirl wrote:
I believe you would need to claim this would be financial hardship for you and you would need to state how much income you may potentially lose per day. My husband was self employed for 30 years and they never accepted his excuse. He just didn't show up. I keep telling him one day the cops are going to come looking for you. They never did. He stopped returning the questionnaires as well. I don't recommend this!
My mother got a jury duty summons several months after she had passed away. I tossed it in the trash.
Several weeks later a Marshall was knocking on the front door. He was there to get my mother for jury duty. I explained to him that she was deceased I had to give him a copy of her death certificate. I was told that in the future if a deceased relative got a notice to return it with a copy of a death certificate, not to ignore it and toss it out.
Oh wow!! I kinda wish that had happened to my husband. He threw out so many of them.
My spouse had to take time off so I could serve. When I said I was a full time parent to young children and without backup childcare, I was asked what would happen if I was in an accident or very sick. I said that I guessed my spouse would have to miss work. And that's what I was told would need to happen. They don't give a rip how inconvenient or expensive it is for you.
I was excused once because I had just split from my then-husband and was the sole caregiver for my then-2 year old daughter, who had never been in day care, with no family nearby,, and she was having severe separation anxiety (had never had it prior). I just explained the situation, and they said they would temporarily excuse me but I would get called in a few months. I ended up being called again (and went) a few *years* later, but wasn't even spoken to before they must have selected everyone. I also got a letter in March 2020 to report in April 2020, but, as you can guess, that didn't happen. Have never tried to use Mystery Shopping as an excuse. ETA: Meant to be replying to deedeezthoughts.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/22/2025 04:34PM by mysterioso412.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/22/2025 04:34PM by mysterioso412.
"I believe you would need to claim this would be financial hardship for you and you would need to state how much income you may potentially lose per day"
I was on a jury for three weeks instead of working my hourly wage job. No one cared that I was earning less. Once I was excused due to nursing an infant.
I was on a jury for three weeks instead of working my hourly wage job. No one cared that I was earning less. Once I was excused due to nursing an infant.
Jury duty is weird.. It seems as if they only want you to be on a jury if it's a major hardship for you to be there. When I was young and the kids were small, I had friends or family to babysit I never was invited. I get an hourly job, or a job based on commission, and I got jury duty notices at least once per year. Now I'm retired, no kids to watch, nothing important to do most days, and my son could do the jobs for me in a pinch if I had something scheduled that I couldn't reschedule, not one single summons. Not since 2010, just before I was injured at work.
There is an upper age cutoff in my state, I believe it is 65, which is ironic, because those are the people who have both the time to serve and the wisdom to listen to arguments.
Serving on a jury is a civic duty and should be highly regarded as such. I've served several times including grand jury for weeks (grand jurors typically serve for a term of one day per week for 16 to 20 weeks in my area).
[The biggest downside that I saw, which most citizens don't speak about, was that the prosecutor's office would "shop" the jury for their desired outcome. Of course, the defense does this as well.]
[The biggest downside that I saw, which most citizens don't speak about, was that the prosecutor's office would "shop" the jury for their desired outcome. Of course, the defense does this as well.]
ah-ha! You just revealed YOU ARE an alien immigrant
@sestrahelena wrote:
Get religion. "I will not judge my fellow man" or whatever. But, today, who knows. That might not work anymore.
I got excused for being too pregant but it was long ago in a galaxy far away.
Interesting. My service was brief and for a criminal case at the county level where we were tasked with deciding whether the defendant was guilty of a misdemeanor or met the threshold for a felony conviction. Easy decision, very little deliberation required, and a jury trial seemed a waste of time.@Morledzep wrote:
Jury duty is weird.. It seems as if they only want you to be on a jury if it's a major hardship for you to be there. When I was young and the kids were small, I had friends or family to babysit I never was invited. I get an hourly job, or a job based on commission, and I got jury duty notices at least once per year. Now I'm retired, no kids to watch, nothing important to do most days, and my son could do the jobs for me in a pinch if I had something scheduled that I couldn't reschedule, not one single summons. Not since 2010, just before I was injured at work.
That was about 12 years ago and I haven't been called again. Spouse hasn't served yet and has been called for selections two or three times in the same period. So, I think they defer you much longer if you get picked.
I've yet to be called in over 40 years of eligibility.
Pretty sure screaming, "Fry the bastard!", in response to any questions would get me excused.
I have no interest in the responsibilities of civic duty in a country that has turned into a massive steaming pile of sh*t right before my very eyes.
Just curious... how many felony convictions is too many to keep criminals from elected office?
Apparently 34 is not enough...
Pretty sure screaming, "Fry the bastard!", in response to any questions would get me excused.
I have no interest in the responsibilities of civic duty in a country that has turned into a massive steaming pile of sh*t right before my very eyes.
Just curious... how many felony convictions is too many to keep criminals from elected office?
Apparently 34 is not enough...
Have synthesizers, will travel...
I agree with you on the ""Fry the bastard / @#$%&!" part... < hey, how come b i t c h gets altered but not bastard?
Again, I firmly believe in the civic duty part. But if I wanted to ever get out of it I would approach the bench and state to the Judge and Defense attorney; "I was raised with a conservative upbringing. I've already come to the conclusion that the accused is guilty from hearing the overview of the case. I look forward to serving your honor."
I'm certain after that I'd hear; "You're excused. NEXT!"
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2025 07:32PM by maverick1.
< hey, how come b i t c h gets altered but not bastard?
Again, I firmly believe in the civic duty part. But if I wanted to ever get out of it I would approach the bench and state to the Judge and Defense attorney; "I was raised with a conservative upbringing. I've already come to the conclusion that the accused is guilty from hearing the overview of the case. I look forward to serving your honor."
I'm certain after that I'd hear; "You're excused. NEXT!"
@CoolMusic wrote:
I've yet to be called in over 40 years of eligibility.
Pretty sure screaming, "Fry the bastard!", in response to any questions would get me excused.
I have no interest in the responsibilities of civic duty in a country that has turned into a massive steaming pile of sh*t right before my very eyes.
Just curious... how many felony convictions is too many to keep criminals from elected office?
Apparently 34 is not enough...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2025 07:32PM by maverick1.
2 thoughts: There is a really funny reality series starring James Marsden and titled "Jury Duty". Also, the TV series "Bull" which was produced by Dr Phil and loosely based on his early career is very insightful. He plays a Psychologist who owns a company that uses algorithms to treat jury selection as a science. It ran for 6 seasons.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2025 10:49PM by ShopperGirly.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/23/2025 10:49PM by ShopperGirly.
When you get a jury summons out here in Podunk, you have to go online and enter a code from the summons, and then answer a few questions. ("Are you a US citizen?" "Have you ever been convicted of a felony?" etc.)
The last question asked is, "Are you of sound mind and good moral character?"
-coughs-
The last question asked is, "Are you of sound mind and good moral character?"
-coughs-
If your path dictates you walk through hell, do it as though you own the place. -unknown
oh dear DR, thanks for the laugh..
My son got a jury summons not too many months ago, all he had to do is call, there weren't any juries that needed bodies.
My son got a jury summons not too many months ago, all he had to do is call, there weren't any juries that needed bodies.
If they paid better more people would serve. Pay $100 a day and people will line up to serve.
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