jury duty questions

I have a few questions about jury duty, especially if you are a resident of New York County.

I just got and submitted a juror questionnaire. How long after that do you usually get called for jury duty?

I am appx 18 weeks pregnant and an attorney. Will either of these get me excused?

What happens if I get called for jury duty while I am on maternity leave - will they excuse me or will I have to go?

You'd think I would know the answers to this but I really am clueless...

Re: jury duty questions

I just got the questionnaire in the mail too! I am not sure how long it will take to get jury duty, but don't worry. They probably will let you off just because you are pregnant or have a newborn. Also - you can always defer your duty if you have to.

Re: jury duty questions

Hmmm it really depends- sometimes I've gotten called 6 months later, sometimes I've gotten called a month later. I feel like it also depends what court you got called to. Brooklyn Federal court seemed to call me faster than Queens court did. Being on maternity leave might get you out of it, but being an attorney probably won't. It might get you off of a case if you get called for the jury pool, but not out of jury duty itself. One of my attorneys is on jury duty this week in fact.

But you can defer service once. Sounds like a good option if you want to avoid it towards the end of your pregnancy and right after you give birth. Can't dodge 'em forever though!

Re: jury duty questions

I got jury duty 6 months after getting the questionairre. It was for 60 Centre.

Re: jury duty questions

I'm just worried that I will have to decide between going at the end of my pregnancy or going during maternity leave (I get 18 weeks off and really don't want to use that time serving jury duty even though I'd probably get excused if I showed up). I guess I just need to wait it out and see what happens.

Re: jury duty questions

Re: jury duty questions

I was chosen for jury duty when I was 32 weeks pregnant. It started when I was 34.5 weeks, the day after I gave birth. I didn't have to serve.

You're considered disabled from 6 -8 weeks post partum, so you would not have to serve during that time period. After your disablity, you can apply for an exemption based on your newborn.

Re: jury duty questions

Re: jury duty questions

I got my summons a couple of months after receiving the questionaire.

I got called when my DS was a newborn and just sent the questionaire back saying I was the sole caretaker of a child and they didn't bother me after that.

I have a family member who is an attorney who has never had to serve. He has shows up the first day and gets dismissed every time. I think most lawyers don't want other lawyers on a jury, but it can happen.

Re: jury duty questions

the only parts of your question i can answer:

1- I've never been excused for being an attorney. I did manage to not get PICKED for a jury when i was in law school and had finals within a couple of weeks - the judge was nice.

2 - I'm in Nassau, but it was about 6 weeks between when I returned the questionnaire and when I got the summons. I remember saying "wow that was fast" lol.

Re: jury duty questions

I just got and submitted a juror questionnaire. How long after that do you usually get called for jury duty?
- I usually get called 1-2 omths after returning the questionnaire.

I am appx 18 weeks pregnant and an attorney. Will either of these get me excused?
- nope. If you are on bedrest for a high risk preg or something, you can be excused but not if you are healthy. I was called when I was 28- 30 weeks so I declined 1x, then they called me again when the baby was 1 month. I went in person with my baby's birth cert, told them that I am the baby's primary caregiver at the time & they excused me no questions asked.

What happens if I get called for jury duty while I am on maternity leave - will they excuse me or will I have to go? - see above.

Also, I have a handful of friends who are lawyers, all have been called to JD but none have been made to serve.

Re: jury duty questions

If you get called, you can postpone it. Honestly, just go now if you get called.