Goodhue county jury duty question (daycare, lawyers, house)

[GaiaGoddess]

Has anyone in here done jury duty in Goodhue County? I received a summons and it says I need to be on call for 3 months. Does that mean I might be picked for multiple trials during those 3 months? Friends are telling me you never have to do more than one trial and it would most likely last a day or two. They say once you do one trial, after that you're done. Then why did they say I needed to be on call for 3 months?

[Teak]

Being on call means that you call in every evening to see if your group has to go in the next day for jury selection. If you were to get selected for jury duty, I am pretty sure it means that you are done for that period after the trial is over. I served on two juries in Alaska and that’s how it worked up there, but those periods lasted only one month, not three.

[Glenfield]

Originally Posted by GaiaGoddess

Has anyone in here done jury duty in Goodhue County? I received a summons and it says I need to be on call for 3 months. Does that mean I might be picked for multiple trials during those 3 months? Friends are telling me you never have to do more than one trial and it would most likely last a day or two. They say once you do one trial, after that you're done. Then why did they say I needed to be on call for 3 months?

Because they might not need or want you for 2-1/2 months

[GaiaGoddess]

Originally Posted by Glenfield

Because they might not need or want you for 2-1/2 months

Ok, this makes me feel better. Thanks!

[GaiaGoddess]

Originally Posted by Teak

Being on call means that you call in every evening to see if your group has to go in the next day for jury selection. If you were to get selected for jury duty, I am pretty sure it means that you are done for that period after the trial is over. I served on two juries in Alaska and that’s how it worked up there, but those periods lasted only one month, not three.

Well that's inconvienent about having to call in every evening...I'm already at work then and I work 12 hours a day so it would be too late to go home and sleep! Ugh.

[Teak]

Originally Posted by GaiaGoddess

Well that's inconvienent about having to call in every evening...I'm already at work then and I work 12 hours a day so it would be too late to go home and sleep! Ugh.

Here is how the Star-Tribune instructs one dealing with jury duty:
How to endure, or even enjoy, your jury duty - StarTribune.com

The key is not to go in looking for an excuse. Judges and lawyers have heard every excuse under the sun and can see through people attempting to get out of service. In fact, one can be found in contempt of court and issued a fine if caught attempting a lie.

[Izzie1213]

Are you sure about having to call every night. I remember only having to call once a week. But I was called for District Court, county may be different.

I do remember going down to court house three times. Each time I just sat around while the called potential jurors upfront while the rest of the group sat in the court room listening to the questions. I was never called upfront and never served on a jury. There didn't seem to be any particular reason why some were called up or not.

A few were asked if any reason for you not to be able to serve. Only one lady was excused because she was the sole caretaker for elderly parents.

I did put in writing when filling out questionnaire e that I needed to be done by 5:30 to pick up 2 year old from daycare, father works out of town M-F. Maybe that is why never picked, who knows.

[GaiaGoddess]

Originally Posted by Teak

The key is not to go in looking for an excuse. Judges and lawyers have heard every excuse under the sun and can see through people attempting to get out of service. In fact, one can be found in contempt of court and issued a fine if caught attempting a lie.

I personally know people who got out of it with a doctors note, not even explaining WHY they couldn't do it. I do have a legit reason though, I wouldn't be lying. I have a circadian rhythm disorder, basically i can't sleep during certain hours of the day/night. I actually ended up in the ER once when a job forced me to work at 7 am, and my doctor's note got me switched back to my normal hours.

[GaiaGoddess]

Originally Posted by Izzie1213

Are you sure about having to call every night. I remember only having to call once a week. But I was called for District Court, county may be different.

I have heard this too, I think it depends on the county, there are too many different answers. That is why I asked specifically about Goodhue County.

I do remember going down to court house three times. Each time I just sat around while the called potential jurors upfront while the rest of the group sat in the court room listening to the questions. I was never called upfront and never served on a jury. There didn't seem to be any particular reason why some were called up or not.

A few were asked if any reason for you not to be able to serve. Only one lady was excused because she was the sole caretaker for elderly parents.

I did put in writing when filling out questionnaire e that I needed to be done by 5:30 to pick up 2 year old from daycare, father works out of town M-F. Maybe that is why never picked, who knows.

I know someone who was there and saw a lady get out of it by bringing along a breast pump saying she needed to pump milk every few hours, and she got excused! I don't know why some people say you can't get excused when clearly people can, for what others might think are silly reasons. My reason is a medical one, I'm still waiting for my doctor to write the note so I still don't know if I'll get it or not.

[Izzie1213]

I would think they probably will excuse you with a medical reason.

I wasn't actually excused. I did have to report initially and everyone was then given instructions, kind of a orientation, that's when the one woman who was a caretaker was excused for hardship. Did have to call in once a week, I think Sunday event see if I had to go in that week to be in potential jury pool. I had to go in 2-3 times but was never picked to serve in a jury. The lady mentioned with the breast pump, even employers have to allow to accommodations if a women is breast feeding to use a pump, it's some kind of law. If the court could not accommodate that then they would be violating some kind of law.