For many that have never been called for jury duty, they consider themselves lucky. Jury duty means taking unpaid time off of work to help out the community. Many people can’t afford the financial strain.
People find the idea of jury duty fun and which they could have a chance at sitting in that courtroom. If you find yourself wondering when you will get called, make sure you do not fall under these reasons.
Why Have I Never Been Called For Jury Duty?
1. Never Registered To Vote
For the state to add your name to the list for jury duty you will need to be a registered voter or on a public list. Some states will require this and if you find yourself not being called, register to vote.
Another reason is never having an ID along with not being registered to vote. These form lists allow states to go through and find those that can do jury duty in certain areas of the state.
Some states can pull your information from places such as utility bills or DMV records. Depending on the state you live in you may just never be called.
2. Aging Out
Most states will not allow people over 70 years old to be on jury duty. This rule is not to discriminate but instead, states understand that older people may have trouble getting to and from jury duty.
The older a person is they may not be able to sit on the jury for hours or days at a time. They will not be removed from the list and will still technically be called to sit for jury duty.
Instead of needing to go in and sit for jury duty anyone over 70 years old will be excused from attending any jury services.
3. Served On A Jury
If you have served on a grand or magistrate jury, you will not be called to be on a jury for the next two years. Serving on these types of jurors disqualifies you from needing to sit on any other types of juries.
Grand and magistrate juries can take up to six months in some cases which means you will have unpaid time off of work and potentially travel. These types of juror duties can sometimes mean a hotel stay.
The hotel stays and meals will be paid for but the days off of work will not be taken care of by anyone but you. Many people find these jury duties exciting while others find them exhausting.
The two-year break is partly because many people can not take off six months back-to-back, it is just not possible for the average person. Many employers will not take their employees leaving for that long.
4. First Responders
In most states, if you are any type of the first responder you can use that as an excuse to be excused from jury duty. First responders are already stretched thin and doing a public service.
That being said in some cases if your job is particularly important you may be able to plead your case. Doctors can not take off days often as the patients never stop coming in.
If you think you helping more by doing your current job, you can always write/call the county that assigned you to that case. Sometimes they will excuse you for the hearing.
If you are excluded keep in mind, they may come back to your name quickly. Some people get called for jury duty twice a year while others live their whole life without being called.
5. Delaying Jury Service
When you are not able to make it to jury duty, but your reasons were not good enough to be exempt will allow you to delay. If you delay, you won’t be called in for any type of jury duty.
In cases where you have delayed jury duty because you were not able to make it the date will be pushed to a later date. Some cases will not allow you to delay the jury date.
If you find yourself not able to take the day off and you decide to not show the jury duty you will be fined up to $1,000. Employers must give you the day off when you show proof of jury duty.
6. Convicted Of A Felony
If you have ever been convicted of a felony you will be excluded from ever being on jury duty. If you have been charged with perjury or false, swearing you will be excluded from being on any type of jury.
Convicted felons or those charged with perjury are not upstanding citizens to be trustworthy in the eyes of the state. The state looks at jury duty as a privilege, and some will not get the chance to sit on the jury.
If you are currently in any form of jail or prison, you are excluded from serving on jury duty. You will not get a “get out of jail free card” for a day to sit on a jury. While this is fairly common sense for most people.
7. Not Old Enough
Anyone under the age of 18 years old is excluded from serving on any jury. After turning 18 your name can be added to the list of eligible candidates to serve on a jury. It may be years before you’re called.
There is no way around being on jury duty before you are 18 years old. Do not falsify any information with a different age as you could wind up in a lot of trouble.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on why you can’t keep a job, why we have to work, and why work is so boring.
Conclusion
If you still have yet to be called, be patient your time is probably coming soon. For the most part, if you have never been called for jury duty you may be a little lucky to not miss work.
The average person called to jury duty has a tough time affording to take an unpaid day off and drive to jury duty. In some cases, the case can go to the grand jury which requires more travel and time.