I got called for jury duty!!!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes wrote:

I was having a bad day as it is and DH comes in with the mail last night with this look in his eye and a little smile...and he hands me the dreaded piece of mail that we all know is a summons for jury duty! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I've been called three times within a six year period, not fair! And a total of 5 times my whole life! DH hasn't been called once, ever!

I'm not saying I want DH to go over me, but it isn't fair! Anyway, I don't know what to do because I have no one to watch Wil. It's all day, 8-5! We don't have family in town and all of my friends have their own kids to watch. We have a babysitter, but she works f/t during the day.

I know it's my civil duty and I should just suck it up and go, but do you think I could get a note from my doc saying I'm PG and get out of it?? I know I can't get out of it just because I'm a SAHM with no one to watch my child...I know that won't work.

DH offered to work from home, but I don't think he understands that it's difficult to actually get work done and watch Wil at the same time. He'll watch a video or play for awhile alone, but you all know toddlers!! WWYD?

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: Take DH up on his offer. It won't hurt him to find out what it is really like to be at home with a toddler.

punkeemunkee'smom replied:

Rae~ Are you sure that is not an excuse? I have not been called since Taylor was born but I KNOW that was on the list down here-you care for a minor child and no alternate care is available. Just because you are a SAHM doesn't mean you can just drop everything and run to jury duty! I would call the courts and ask or if you do have to go just say he/she looks GUILTY to you!

luvmykids replied: But if you do have to go, I'm with Kelly!

~Roo'sMama~ replied: Ugh that stinks I'm sorry! I've been called twice but never had to serve. The first time I got out of it because I was going to be out of town for my sister's wedding, but they only postponed it and I got called a few months later - RIGHT before my wedding. I called and asked if I could get out of it because I was getting married in a couple weeks and didn't have time to sit on a jury but the lady was a snot and said I had to come. The guy ended up pleading guilty before they even selected the jury though so after sitting there all morning we all got to go home.

C&K*s Mommie replied: I got called twice within a yr timeframe, once in TLH (that was easy to get out of I was due to have Kellie at the same time but we live in Pensacola, too)

The second time I was BF Kellie, & in chatting with some other ladies when I was at the courthouse I mentioned this~~ they encouraged me to tell the court people. They had already set aside a few moments for people with excuses to give them, and I told them that i was nursing, and they let me go!

I agree with Kelly and Monica, let your DH stay at home and try to get some work done!

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied:
Oh, I didn't know that!! I'm going to call on Monday and see if it is a valid excuse down here. Thanks!

MamaJAM replied:
Actually - in most places - if you are a SAHM and the primary caregiver of a young child - that IS all you need to tell them to 'get out of it'. I know that where I live - if you are the primary caregiver of a child under the age of 7....that's all you need to tell them. There might be info right on your summons where to write to the courthouse telling them that there are circumstances which make serving on a jury difficult for you. If not -- call the courthouse directly and ask them who you should contact.

Good Luck.

ftr - I've been called twice for jury duty since becoming a SAHM....I didn't have to report either time since there would have been no on to watch my kids.

My3LilMonkeys replied: ITA - it can't hurt to try. I got out of jury duty just by telling them I was the only one at my company who could run payroll and if I had to go to jury duty it would cause the company a hardship.

CantWait replied: Good Luck, sounds reasonable to me

mom2tripp replied: Here in VA if you are nursing or a primary caregiver there is a box you can check on the paperwork to get out of it!!! TRY IT

gr33n3y3z replied: Just tell them you have no family in the area to watch your child

They dont pay enough to go and deal with that added stress of the day
I get out of it everytime.
If they paid me what I would miss from work then I would do it