10 Tips to Survive Jury Duty
A few years ago, I received a jury summons, showed up to court, and ended up almost being assigned as an alternate juror for a two-month murder trial. My stomach was in knots during the selection process. How would I manage financially if I sat on a jury for two months?
You’re probably reading this because you received a jury duty summons. You know it’s your civic duty, but how will you manage it? Can you afford it? You start thinking about how to get out of it or at least get through it. Here are 15 tips to help you survive jury duty.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that I may receive compensation when you click on a product link or purchase an item linked on this site. Click here for details.
Before Jury Duty
1 | Don't answer your summons
I have heard of people doing this without penalty, but I don't condone doing this because it's illegal and we have a duty to serve if called. Let's move on...
2 | File for hardship
You can try to be exempted from jury duty. Some common excuses:
You have a physical or mental disability. This may require a doctor’s note.
You care for a child or dependent.
You don’t speak the language.
You can also file for hardship. During jury selection for the two-month-long trial, at least 75% of people raised their hands to file for hardship. Most people can’t afford to take two months off from work unpaid.
Each judge and court handles applications for hardship differently.
I’ve done jury duty several times in two different counties. In both counties, people who file for hardship are required to report back at another later date and take a chance of being on a jury then.
You can weigh your options as you learn about the case. Judges tell you a general overview of the case and the expected length of the trial before they select jurors.
You may decide to file for hardship if you hear that the trial will take two months but not if it’s expected to take two days.
3 | Postpone your jury duty
Check with your county to learn the details of postponement where you would serve.
Where I’ve lived, you're allowed to postpone your jury duty for six months for a maximum of two times within a year. I’ve read of another county that allows postponement for up to 90 days.
Schedule your jury duty for times when you’re less likely to be chosen. I used to schedule it for the week between Christmas and New Year's Day because I was off from school at that time for winter break.
Sometimes I didn’t get called in for the entire week. I never got past the jury waiting room when I was called in.
Judges are like other working people who take off from work during the winter holidays. It’s less likely that court will be in session, so there’s less need for jurors.
4 | Provide a legitimate excuse to be removed from service
If you’re selected to be a potential juror, you’re asked a series of questions about your background, views, and ability to be fair. Be honest, but know that your responses to those questions can have you removed from service.
In the two-month-long trial, I was asked if I could be a fair and impartial juror. The lawyer said that I have to see the defendant as as innocent as a baby on the day he was born. I stated truthfully that I could not and was dismissed from the jury.
During Jury Duty
5 | Give yourself time
If it’s your first time going to jury duty, note what time you need to arrive and how you will get there. Give yourself time to park, get to the entrance, go through security, and find your way to the right room.
The courthouse is in a busy and crowded area of San Francisco. I took public transportation to the courthouse. I would’ve had to park in a garage and pay for parking if I drove there. That would’ve been an additional cost and headache.
Give yourself time to research the area as well. If I had been on the jury, I wanted to go to two nearby Vietnamese and Indonesian restaurants for lunch. They both had great reviews and were within walking distance of the courthouse. What better time to try them out?
6 | Make yourself comfortable
You might want to work when court is on break or just make the situation more comfortable. Bring your comforts with you and take care of yourself.
Some things that will make your day a little easier:
Laptop or tablet for work – Note that you’ll likely have to go through metal detectors and you’ll have to keep a close eye out on your belongings.
Portable battery – You don’t know how many hours or how many videos you’ll watch while there. Keep your battery charged so it lasts until you are home.
Headphones – Headphones can help you hear media but also remove you from the court environment when you need that separation.
Lunch, snacks, and a drink – Save yourself a search for food and some money by bringing your own.
A book – Bring a good book you’ve been wanting to read for a while. This is helpful too if Wi-Fi is not working or suboptimal for using tech gadgets.
Sweater – I was in the open area of an event center for jury selection. You might be indoors with cold AC. Bring a sweater to keep warm.
Take breaks – Get up and stretch and go for a short walk when court is on break. Find a quiet spot if you’re feeling tired or overwhelmed with the case.
7 | Shift your work schedule
Let’s face it, jury duty pays pennies. I would’ve been paid $15 a day for service plus a little more for transportation, hardly a living wage in SF. My plan was to shift my work schedule to I could serve on the jury while maximizing my pay during outside hours.
In the two-month-long case, court was in session from about 9:30 am to 4 pm Monday to Thursday with a 1.5-hour lunch break. That provided several free hours that could be utilized for work or to run necessary errands.
I planned to shift my schedule to work full days on Friday through Sunday and work a few early morning or late afternoon hours during the week. I’m fortunate that my work is flexible enough to allow this.
Talk to your employer and your family to see if you can shift your work schedule at all. If you are able to work part-time or change your work hours even temporarily, that can be a big help in earning enough money to get by.
8 | Pick up side jobs
I'm a huge fan of taking side jobs to earn extra income. Lots of websites and apps like Fiverr and Upwork link people quickly and easily to potential side jobs.
Think about what skills you have side jobs that you could do. The easiest to start immediately are ones like being a rideshare or delivery driver. You may have specialized skills that can pay more.
I’m a speech-language pathologist in my job. I could sign with a home health agency and start providing service to people in the evening and weekend hours.
If I had been on the jury for two months, I planned to walk dogs and babysit cats through Rover and run errands for people through TaskRabbit in my free hours. I'd sell clothes and other household items on Poshmark and eBay too.
9 | Change your mindset
Consider jury duty a sabbatical from a hectic job. Days in court offer the benefit of a set schedule, long lunch hours, and nights without bringing work home.
Beyond the demands and pressures of being involved in a murder trial, I could spend my free time thinking about my other interests and hobbies, even letting my mind wander, without being anxious about my regular work getting done.
I'd try to make the best of a difficult situation with a change in attitude.
After Jury Duty
10 | Keep track of your jury duty
Courts will provide you with a written note excusing you from work if your employer requires it. Don’t forget to pick up a note on your way out.
California residents are required to serve once a year. You may be summoned more than once a year because your name is randomly pulled from that database more frequently than that.
Keep track of when you last served and how often you’re required to serve in your area. If you’ve met the requirement for your area, the let the court know and you’re free until the next summons.
Wrap Up
In the end, there would have been no way for me to serve on a jury for two months without enduring some hardship. I consider this a lesson learned.
Next time I will file for hardship, return at a later date, and take my chances that I’m placed on a jury in a shorter trial or not at all.
What are some ways you recommend to survive jury duty?
