Ah, the dreaded jury duty summons. For many, jury service can be described simply in one word: inconvenient.
Taking time off of work or school to head down to the courthouse to waste hours in wait times that can rival those at the DMV (and God help you if you’re selected), it’s no wonder that jury duty isn’t something most people look forward to.
So, what happens if you ignore the jury summons and don’t show up? Before you throw that letter away, here’s what you need to know.
Skipping Duty
Failing to respond to your jury summons does have consequences, but it varies from each state and each county. There’s just about always a fine though, usually anywhere from $100 to $1,000.
If you do not get excused from attendance and don’t show up for jury duty, know this: it’s a violation of state law. Paying a fine does not keep you from being summoned again in the future either. Like paying your taxes, jury duty is mandatory.
You could be found in contempt of court, which can lead to incarceration for a few days or a term of community service. Again, it varies depending on where you live.
If you missed your court date, don’t panic though. You can typically call your local jury office to reschedule.
Why Me?
Jurors are essential to the administration of justice. Without people people who are willing to to perform their civic duty, jury trials simply cannot be held.
Jurors are picked at random, according to the Los Angeles Superior Court. Contrary to popular belief, not registering to vote isn’t a jury duty free pass either. Along with voter registration lists, names are randomly drawn from driver’s license and identification cards from the Department of Motor Vehicles as well.
So, when you receive that jury duty summons, it’s probably best not to ignore it. Get excused if you have to.
What has your experience been like with jury duty? Have you skipped it before? Did anything happen to you? Be sure to let everyone know in the comments below.
Sources:
http://www.uscourts.gov/federalcourts/JuryService.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_selection_in_the_United_States
http://www.lasuperiorcourt.org/jury/faq.htm
