Jury Service

[gentle_mama04]

I know there's been a million and one threads about this, so I'm sorry about starting another one.


I was called up to serve in the District Court for jury service. I sent my notarized letter back stating that I was the primary caregiver for my three small children, two of whom are nursing, on being under the age of one. I got a letter back today stating that I cannot be released for this reason. What can I do? My nursing baby will NOT take a bottle, so if I have to be away from him for more than 4 hours he will starve.

I am in Montana btw.

[mytwogirls]

Awww mama!!! That sucks! I know in Nebraska we have a state law prohibiting nursing moms from being called the jury duty. I don't know what Montana is like, but it does not sound good. I am sure there are mamas out there who can help and give you some good advice on whom to contact. Good luck and stick to your guns mama.

[imagine21]

Bring your baby and dare them to hold you in contempt of court...actually, I'm only half serious. I would not want you to put yourself in jeopardy, but if you are comfortable???? I don't know what the laws are in Montana. Good luck.

[Peony]

I got a summons for federal court a couple months ago, had the exact same issue. I'm in CO and no provisions for bfing or having small children at home. I researched all my options, not many, and in the end I decided to ignore it. My other plan was to fill out the form saying I had to have access to a pump every 3 hours, and hope that they wouldn't pick me based on that.


Good luck.

[gentle_mama04]

I already filled out the questionarre and sent it back in. Basically I'm in the pool for a year. The letter I got back states that "If you are called to server for a trial, you are welcome to re-state your cause and need for excusal. If you are requestiong to be excused due to a medical condition, please provide a doctor's affidavit to support your request."

Could I have ds's doc write an affidavit saying that it would be detrimental to his health if I were to be gone from him for more than three hours, since he refuses a bottle at all?

[KristyDi]

Originally Posted by gentle_mama04

I already filled out the questionarre and sent it back in. Basically I'm in the pool for a year. The letter I got back states that "If you are called to server for a trial, you are welcome to re-state your cause and need for excusal. If you are requestiong to be excused due to a medical condition, please provide a doctor's affidavit to support your request."

Could I have ds's doc write an affidavit saying that it would be detrimental to his health if I were to be gone from him for more than three hours, since he refuses a bottle at all?

The bolded makes it sound like they may send it to everyone who tries to get out of it.

So you say you're in the pool for a year. Do you have any immediate obligations? If you don't have to do anything until called for a trial then you may get lucky and not be called.

It sounds different than the way jury duty works here.

I think I remember something on the LLL site about jury duty. They may have letters you can use or tips or something.

[gentle_mama04]

I'll have to check out the LLL site

[bellymama]

i've never gone to jury duty when called. i am a bad, bad, bad american...and so far the man hasn't come and gotten me.

[paquerette]

Weeelll, you could go in and deliberately blow the interview process. Make yourself sound like a big jerk ignorant bigot.

[bscal]

I strongly suggest calling the jury clerk person. I was sent a jury summons in January to appear in Feb. I called and talked to a very nice lady at the clerk's office. First, she postponed my week until April to give me plenty of time to fill out this form. Then she told my that btw, I needed to fill it out with the birthdate of my youngest child and I'd be out of the computer system until that child turns 4. I'm in GA and if you are the primary caregiver for kids under 4 you're excused.

You might want to call your local LLL Leader first and see if she has any helpful hints or perhaps some literature to pass on to your local court systems. GL,

Beth

[ramama]

Wow, it was totally different for me in Montana. I got excused pretty easily. I guess my story was a little different because I was 7 mo pregnant when I received the notice and DD1 was still breastfeeding. I stated such in my response and was easily excused. Perhaps whoever opened your response was just having a bad day. I'd do as PP suggested and call the clerk's office and see what could be done.

But as a paralegal student, I would have LOVED to serve on a jury, it just wasn't possible, and I stated that in my response. I tried to suggest all different ways that I could still serve (I said that I could serve for the second 6 months but not the first 6 months, etc.) and perhaps they just thought I was crazy and didn't want to bother with me!

Good luck!

[uumomma]

Originally Posted by bellymama

i've never gone to jury duty when called. i am a bad, bad, bad american...and so far the man hasn't come and gotten me.

MEE TOOO!
go us :

[gentle_mama04]

I did call them. All the man could say was, "The judge has made his decition. There's nothing I can do for you."

I don't know what to do at this point. Do I just let it go and hope I don't get called? Do I contact my lawyer and see what I can do? I'm not sure.

[krystyn33]

Yikes, mama--I hope your lawyer or someone has some advice you can trust and that you find a way out. I was called for jury duty in NC and I got a postponement, but I was told I can expect to get called again in 90 days. And then my husband was called a week or so afterward. It's crazy. Both of us would be happy to serve but we cannot afford care for DS, nor can we afford Dh to miss work since he doesn't have paid days off. We need some kind of legislation on this to protect the interests of our young children!

Good luck to you!

[KristyDi]

I found the LLL page on jury duty. Unfortunately it doesn't look like much help. Sorry.

[mytwogirls]

Originally Posted by paquerette

Weeelll, you could go in and deliberately blow the interview process. Make yourself sound like a big jerk ignorant bigot.

I like that idea...gotta remember that one...haha

[hipmummy]

I live in Ma and I was able to postpone until ds was 21 months, he still nurses every two-three hours but he survived. They were really good about letting me go past a year. But after 18 months they said I could not postpone it. I thught that was very fair. Just for showing up , I have fufilled my service and cannot be called agan for three years. Ds's dr. would have provided a note if he was still EBF.

[Pyrodjm]

I would blow the interview process if there was no other way out.

The main witnesses will be police...oh, well I don't trust police.
It involves drunk driving... I believe consuming alcohol should be illegal.
It involves teenagers...youth today have no respect and need to be taught a lesson

You get the picture. Just sound so so closeminded and judgemental that no one would think you'd make a goo juror.

[blueRhino]

Could you show up to court with your baby and just say sorry I am unable to be away from him? I have a feeling if that didn't get you "excused" it would not land you on a jury. Just a thought.