Jury duty - I need an out...

[Lucky Luciano]

I was supposed to go to jury duty in December, but I had a vacation to South America planned, so I postponed it. Just the other day the fuckin' jury duty mail comes to me and I have to go June 24. I thought that is fine, but it turns out that it is the only day I can get two elevators in the building I am moving out and the building that I am moving into it NYC. So I need to move the jury duty again, but it is hard to move it more than once apparently. Usually, a postponement can be done by touchtone phone, but a second one requires getting through to a person - impossible in NYC. Does my excuse hold water - it is legit 100%. I am also unemployed and in the midst of some intense interviewing. I workedin finance, so getting a job again has been a total bitch. I successfuly did two phone interviews with one group and they are likely to call me back for an inhouse interview (with the help of a former colleague who is lobbying hard for me to stand out from the hundreds of resumes they have). If that inhouse interview comes, jury duty can go to hell. I don't have time for this garbage. I have never been to jury duty before, so I have no idea what my probability of getting another postponement will be. Anybody know?

I definitely need an out for the move, but the wildcard of conflicting with an interview scares me as well. I know I can get out of jury duty by faking racism - a friend faked a subtle dislike for Chinese people and was promptly excused (apparently, everbody in the room winced because they didn't think of the racism card to get out of jury duty) - but this will not help me for the move date - only helps to eliminate potential interview conflicts - interviews are HARD HARD HARD HARD to get so I will not fuck with it - it would be the first one in seven months.

:rant:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. You're pretty fucked ..........

All you can do is explain your situation to whatever live person you get and hope for the best.

But, as for faking racism, well, that's sort of suckass, since jury duty is one of those prices we pay for living in a democracy. But, that's your call.

I'd wish you luck, but you've already got your name ............

[rug]

2. I don't think reserving an elevator will do it.

[Lucky Luciano]

9. Don't know what to do then. I had a really nasty fight with

the previous building when I moved out without reserving an elevator. It involved threats from the building manager and I retaliated by calling the police and threatening to charge him with harassment and the cops set him straight after I assured them I was trying my hardest to prevent a physical confrontation that was inevitable if he tried to block me from moving out - though, quite frankly I would have preferred to kick his ass. Jury duty is very much a nuisance and seems to come at the most inopportune times.

[Lucky Luciano]

11. Actually, they let me postpone by one day - that helps my moving day!

That is very good and relieves some stress, but I do have to worry about the other stuff mentioned in the OP and cannot afford much time for this! Definitely good news though overall!

[rug]

18. Good luck on the move. If you show up you can get out of it.

New York County drags in truckloads of jurors.

[sniffa]

3. Just call them and tell them you're racist against everyone

and hate police, lawyers, and judges.

[Shell Beau]

4. Don't fake racism! I do understand you need an out, but

it is your civic duty. Don't lie to get out of it. But, I do understand needing to get out of it. Explain your situation and hope they pick someone else. :shrug:

[DeepBlueC]

5. tell them the police don't arrest innocent people

;)

[Rob H.]

6. Do you know any police officers?

I only ask because years ago when my dad and I both got a jury duty summons, they asked him whether he was friends with, worked with, or was related to any police officers. He had worked at the Shelby County Courthouse in Memphis a few years earlier and was still friends with some of the officers he met there, so he said, "Yes." They thanked him for his time, told him his service wouldn't be required, and sent him home.

[Lucky Luciano]

8. Heheh...a first cousin once removed that I never met

is a police officer in the Bronx from what I gather. I will definitely keep that in mind.

[Renew Deal]

7. You can not show up and take your chances with the long arm of the law

But aren't those things set up in a way where you have to call in and they tell you which day to show up? You might not have to go that day. You just might need to call.

BTW, I got the jury duty letter today. I have to go in a few weeks.

[HopeHoops]

10. Start your interview out by mumbling "Oh, I hope I get a murder case."

"I just love murders. Maybe I'll get one with lots of bloody pictures. That would be so cool. Oh, please."

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

12. Ummmmmmmmmmm

on the off chance you ever are on trial, wouldn't you want people who cared enough to try and get things right to be on the jury? :shrug: You being in a jury could be a difference maker for someone. It would be easier to reschedule the interview, if it comes through, than avoid your calling to the jury box.........

[Lucky Luciano]

15. NO WAY!

The interview is 100 billion time more important. I would rather pay a $1,000 fine than miss the interview. Being in the financial industry and getting an interview in this environment is like finding an untapped gold mine. It is NOT a jobseekers market - and that is most acutely felt in finance. I will not sacrifice an interview for anything or anyone after seven months of unemployment and absolutely no bid for me anywhere else. The slightest hint that I am not 1000% motivated would be enough to put off an employer in this market and let them go for one of the hundreds of other people they are considering - the ones who would give up their right arm for a job in systematic electronic options trading. I have $3,200 rent to pay for my one bedroom - I am far more concerned about money money money and the $430/wk in unemployment is not going to cut it. Selling my car this month to make ends meet.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

22. If you duck jury duty,

you're not going to get a fine. You're going to get tossed into the slammer, and they will not hesitate to send you off.

Jury duty is a serious thing, and the judicial folks take it seriously. Your job interview is important, sure, but if you have jury duty, you're going to have to reschedule it, because, missed opportunity or not, you're not going to gain anything with a record............

[LeftyMom]

21. In this economy?

There are so many qualified applicants that doing anything that looks like imperfect commitment to the job is the kiss of death. Rescheduling would definitely qualify.

I'd blow off jury duty to interview for a good job too. Hell, I'd probably do that in a non-fucked economy. A job is worth more to me than having to pay a fine.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

13. Dupe

[arbusto_baboso]

14. How I got out of jury duty (true story).

A couple years ago I got called for jury duty. Near the end of my required day of service, I was called into a courtroom with a large group of other prospective jurors.

It was a murder case. We would've been there for weeks.

This was after the OJ trial, when attorneys were getting a lot of bad press.

Anyway, we were all given 17-page questionnaires to fill out, which we were supposed to return to the bailiff. After that, we were excused for the day, and expected back the next morning.

One of the questions asked "Have recent high-profile trials given you a negative prejudice against defense attorneys?"

I answered, "A few years ago I worked for the Distraict Attorney's office. Therefore, I despise all attorneys equally."

When I cam eback the next day, the bailiff told me (with a huge grin on his face), that I was excused from further service.

[NV Whino]

16. Just carry the latest John Grisham novel with you when you go.

[no name no slogan]

17. Tell them you have teh ghey

Oh wait, that's to get out of the draft. In the 1960s.

Sorry, I got nuthin'. :shrug:

[old mark]

19. They took me off the list permanently...All you have to do is

have a couple of heart attacks and bypass surgery, and diabetes and high blood pressure, then let them know all that plus what meds you are on and how you have to pee every 45 minutes or so, and they will take you off the list.

At least it worked that way for me....

mark

[JBoy]

20. Tell them you'd make a great juror.

You can tell if someone is guilty just by looking at them.