Escape from Jury Duty

It wasn’t uncommon to get a jury duty summons at least every other year when we lived on Capitol Hill. Both my husband and myself had to show up for jury duty more times than what seemed “normal.” We lived in the Midwest for thirty years and I was called one time. Luckily for us, we didn’t get as far as actually serving, although I had a close call twice. The last time I got a summons it was not even a year since I had last served and I finally got a reprieve. So it was a surprise when my husband got a jury summons in the mail last week. It was forwarded via the post office to our new address in northern Virginia. I knew he wouldn’t need to serve, but he would definitely need to notify someone that we no longer lived in DC. So we checked the website and as soon as we updated the residential address, the pop up screen said he was disqualified because he was no longer a resident. That was followed up by an email that the disqualification was approved. We had mixed feelings about moving from Capitol Hill, but they become less and less intense when we get reminders like this one. We can still go visit whenever there’s a good reason. Every time we drive in to the old neighborhood - it’s only ten miles away - I am reminded of a lot of the more unpleasant issues we had to deal with. It’s taking my husband longer to feel the way I do, but I’m sure he’ll come around sooner than later. This is one of them. 

DC Superior Court Courtroom

I got a jury duty summons right before Labor Day. Because I served exactly two years before the date I received it, I applied for dispensation and actually got it! We have lived in DC for twelve years and I have been called to jury duty at least five times - every two years without fail. I was thrilled to get out of it. Due to an interesting situation, we were invited to attend a civil lawsuit trial by a family member, who might be testifying. So for our morning walk we headed to the courthouse. I feel like I am on the jury again because we have been sitting here in the courtroom since 9 AM, and the jurors are now being selected. It’s a rare thing that I would get up at 7:30 AM for anything since I retired. It is freezing in here, and no one seems to think using a microphone is a good idea. I am hard pressed to hear most of what is being discussed. They will probably call for a lunch break next, and then perhaps the testimony may begin - or maybe not. It is all very interesting, but the show for us hasn’t even started yet. And the day is half over. 

Jury Duty - Good News!

Since we moved to DC twelve years ago from the Midwest I have been called to jury duty every two years. My husband has also been called as often. On September first I received another summons - exactly two years from the last time - September 1, 2016. The only reason I knew that date was because it was marked in my calendar. So I filled in the required juror information on the website and completed the section of my last date of service. It said in the general information that you “could get disqualified” from the summons if you served within the last two years. So my information was submitted online and a notice said that it would take a few business days to review and consider the request, and to check the website later for the verdict. So yesterday I checked in thinking it would obviously be denied. To my utter amazement, it said I had been disqualified and I was not required to appear. I haven’t been that surprised since we moved here. Perhaps they noticed I have reported at least five times without making any fuss, but I still can’t believe it. My husband received  his summons a week after I got mine last time. If it happens to him, we will try the same maneuver. In the meantime I still can’t believe it, but I have a feeling I’ll be seeing another summons in short order. Stay tuned. 

DC Jury Duty AGAIN

We moved here twelve years ago from the Midwest. I think I was called to jury duty one time in the thirty years we lived there. Without a doubt, you can depend on having jury duty in DC at least every two years. The last time I was summoned was September 1, 2016. And guess what? I got a summons yesterday in the mail - September 1, 2018. Isn’t that just a coincidence? Of course, the date for this summons is for October - just a few days more than the two year opt out option. So I filled in all the required information on line, including the section for the date you last served. When I logged out, it said the court will review the dates of my last service and determine if I am eligible to get excused. I highly doubt it but it’s worth the try - especially since this is the FIFTH time I have to go. Being retired doesn’t make it any easier - in fact it’s more inconvenient because we were just planning some trip options but that’s now on hold. And if it’s anything like the last time, my husband got his summons about a week after I got mine. This is definitely another reason we wouldn’t mind living elsewhere. This is the kind of lottery I don’t like winning.