Jury duty summons while on a long trip

If you are 70 or over you can have your name removed from the list permanently, at least in California, where I live
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Perhaps it depends on where you live, the size of town? We will be on the road for over two months-all we needed to have mail held was the approval of supervisor. We got it and headed out this morning. Teton's-Yellowstone here we come!

The summons from the Los Angeles Courts, at least mine, required that you complete the phone registration before you could apply for any changes. If this really concerns you, since it is almost impossible to call the courts, a trip to Van Nuys or Chatsworth to talk with the court clerk about procedures might ease your mind.

I sent them a notice that I was traveling full time and would not be available for future jury duty and they removed me from the roll. Before that when I would receive a summons, my daughter would overnight it to me and I would contact them and tell them I was out of town and would return xxxx. Never had a problem.

I spend winters in Florida and do a temporary change of address to my sister's place. I believe you can do this for up to 6 months.

NCWriter wrote:
There may existing factors that already could potentially exclude you from the jury pool. In our county, being age 72 or greater, or having a disability verified by a doctor, can excuse a citizen from serving if they make application. For example, some have hearing or visual impairment that prevents them from following the proceedings adequately.

then rent a PO box at the post office and have your mail forwarded there until you get back

or

have your daughter scan the mail she picks up and then notify you of anything important. if by some chance a jury duty summons appears call the court and i'll bet you a dime to a dollar you will be excused.

MARKW8 wrote:

Ductape wrote:

azdryheat wrote:
When I go out of town I go on-line to the Post Office (USPS) and put a hold on my mail delivery until I get home. If the summons is sitting in the Post Office then you obviously were never notified about jury duty.

Maximum 30 days. OP is out for months.

They held ours for 7 weeks a few years ago.

Mark

That was "a few years ago."......we traveled last winter and PO would NOT hold for more than 30 days. We ended up "moving" and giving them a mail forwarding address.

SCVJeff wrote:
I report to the same courthouse as you and they try and throw their weight around at times. But if you wernt there, you wernt there, its that simple.

Mine have come when on business and i simply tell them i'm not going to be here on that date and tell them to reschedule or release me. When was the last time anyone got fined or jailed for failing to appear?

Not sure when the last time was but it has and can be done. It seems that you usually would have to have repeated violations but still not worth the risk, requesting a postponement is easy and safer.

According to this article from 2008 LA County has fined residents over $940,000 (doesn't specify the time period) so obviously it has been done. Jury Dodgers

Here is another older article (2005) from the LA Times on the subject Jury Duty No Shows

As a side note. Several years ago I actually saw a judge in a small California town order the bailiff to go out on the street and round people for jury duty. It was a downtown area and he sent him out at lunch time with orders to arrest anyone who refused. He was upset because enough people had not shown up to be able to seat a jury. And yes as a few of the prominent local citizens learned it was completely legal and within his powers. Was actually rather humorous.

Not really a problem you simply request a postponement. The notice will have the instructions on it. Postponements are fairly common and easy to obtain. Getting excused on the other hand is not quite as easy.

LA Jury, Excuses, Postponements and Transfers

If I'm not there I couldn't serve anyway so the notice is redundant. Also, I don't forward my mail because I don't know where I'll be.I don't recall if I ever got a notice while I was gone, but I have gotten them just before I left. A phone call took care of the conflict with no repercussions.