Help! Jury Duty TOMORROW!

I haven't posted in quite a while but I am in desperate need of help....

I received a postcard yesterday stating that I failed to appear for jury duty and that I must appear Monday. I never even got my first notice. The courthouse offers child care for those 3 years and above and who are potty trained. My kids are neither of those. I have no one to watch my kids and am a stay at home mom. Would you call in the morning and let them know your issue or would you just show up with your kids? I just don't want to have to sit there with my kids all day....help!

 

I would definately call before I went.

 

I would give them a call ASAP and explain that you have two toddlers who are not potty trained. I would think that you would be excused. Definitely give them a call!

 

I would call ahead of time if possible. I fyou have to be there at the start of the day, I WOULD show up with twin toddlers...they'll send you home QUICKLY!

FWIW, I was summoned for jury duty when the boys were about 12 weeks. Needless to say, I was excused without question.

 

I'm assuming that the notice you received is the real thing but you should check to make sure it's not a variation of this scam where a criminal tries to collect personal information about you. Are you sure the phone number on the card is actually a government office?

 

I've always just thrown them out, I've never answered to one (I'm 30) except once when I was 22 and in school and a girl I went to school with worked for a judge and excused me and again about two weeks ago I happened to get one and I will be out of the state on vacation so I sent them my paid hotel receipt. I'm excused until Oct. 29th and I'm not going to that either, basically I have only responded twice in my life when I had a valid excuse. I have twins and a SD, DH works and I have no time for jury duty...I'm sure their are tons of ppl out there who have all the time in the world to go to jury duty....I would call tell them you will not be there you have three children and no babysitter, if they want proof tell them you will send copies of birth certificates! GL!

 

I've never heard of getting a notice that late! In NJ you get your notice to appear at least a month in advance. It's gotten a little stricter here to get out of jury duty. But, under your circumstances I would call in the morning and let them know your situation and if they want you to go to the courthouse. I don't think that they'd make you stay there all day with them though.

 

I would check into the scam Sue talked about and if necessary, I would SHOW UP with the kids and they will just send you home! There's NO way you can serve on a jury with your kids there and not being cared for!!! It's a lot of work, but if they balk at it on the phone, just do it!

 

Thanks to everyone who replied. I ended up taking my kids and they sent me home. I am excused for a year. Thanks again.

 

Glad that it was resolved. I have been called a few times since the kids and I just write that I am the primary caregiver to two infants/babies/toddlers. It is an automatic excuse. Of course, it helps to get the first notice in the mail!

 

heeheh, nothin they hate more than kids in a courthouse! lol