Can you ignore jury summons

A jury summons means that you miss time from work and are inconvenienced. Serving on a jury is part of our civic duty. It is a vital part of the judicial system in the United States. We are guaranteed a right to be judged by a jury of our peers in criminal court and civil court. Jurors serve on a variety of cases, including cases involving car crashes , slip and fall accidents , construction accidents , and wrongful death. However, it can still be inconvenient.

Many people might consider ignoring a jury summons and skipping jury duty. If you decide to ignore the jury summons, you could face penalties for not showing up for jury duty. You can be called for jury service once per year. You may or may not be chosen for a jury, but you must show up as directed on the jury summons.

By law, jurors must meet specific qualifications to serve on a jury. While you might not enjoy the thought of serving on a jury, you may have no choice but to serve as a juror. Eligible residents in Georgia can serve of criminal cases.

They can also serve in civil cases, such as a personal injury case. While you can serve in both federal and state courts, we will limit our discussion of jury duty to state court.

A Jury Summons is a court order to appear for jury service. You should read the entire summons and any letter or documents accompanying the summons. Failing to read the summons or other documents is not a valid defense for skipping out on jury duty.

You must respond to the jury summons. Even if you have a valid reason for not serving on a jury, you must answer the summons. The jury summons provides the contact information for the Clerk of Court and instructions on how to respond to the summons. In that case, says Rice, you should contact the court immediately to let them know your situation. And note: you probably won't be able to use this excuse more than once. Plus, don't you want to see if the court case you're selected for has one of these ridiculous names?

Some categories of people are automatically excused from jury duty, including those on active military duty, firefighters, and students who are residents out of state. But even they have to follow a specified procedure for getting excused. If you'd been charged with a crime or had an important legal dispute, wouldn't you want your peers to show up and make a fair and objective determination? Amazon shoppers are living in these on-sale joggers: 'OMG these are the most comfortable pants I've ever owned!

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Of course, you must give a valid excuse to be let out of jury duty, and you must also reach out in advance. What constitutes a valid reason can vary from state to state, but a few potential reasons are:. Financial hardship — If serving on a jury would cause you to suffer undue hardship, you may be excused in advance. Student status — Students who receive a summons for jury duty are typically excused if jury service would interfere with their studies.

If you think you may be facing consequences for missing jury duty, consider reaching out to a qualified criminal defense attorney for legal advice. Most attorneys who handle criminal cases will offer prospective clients a free consultation, where they will answer your questions and explain how they may be able to help. As with most potential problems, taking action in advance is the best way to prevent the issue from ballooning into something more serious. Member Login Get Listed Today.

Consequences of not showing up for a jury summons Missing jury duty can result in serious consequences, even the first time you skip it.