SO, I got a summons for jury duty. It's for Monday. I called after 5 pm yesterday and it says all jurors have to report.
Ummmm...I have four kids. And, you know, a husband who works so we can all eat. There are no exemptions from jury duty in Colorado unless you have a doctor's note stating you care for someone who, because of medical reasons, has to have you there at all times. Hmmm, I don't really fit in that category.
There is a free daycare apparently for kids whose parents have "court business". BUT, Kaitlyn has a cold, and they don't accept kids with cold symptoms. AND, excuse me, but I don't leave my kids in random daycare situations that I don't know anything about--government sponsored or not.
So this leaves me with two options:
1.) Haul my kids down to the Denver courthouse at 8:30 Monday morning...try to find parking that most likely I'll have to pay for...go through security with all four kids...see what happens.
2.) NOT show up, and when I get the inevitable threatening letter in the mail saying I-might-owe-hundreds-of-dollars-for-shirking-my-civic-duty, I'll say hey, I have four kids including one with a cold, what was I supposed to do?
I'm currently leaning towards #2. I'm all for supporting our nation's justice system, but sorry, jury duty isn't practical for at-home moms whose husbands actually have to be at work, and who don't feel comfortable leaving their precious children with strangers.
So we'll see what happens. Either way it's not good...but at least this way I get more sleep on Monday morning...
Saturday, April 04, 2009
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18 comments:
what a lame rule. at least in CA we have the "i'm responsible for kids under such and such age from 8-5) rule. i'm so sorry. that's incredibly frustrating. and please tell us how it all comes down. i don't want you to end up in jail, but i'd love to hear this threatening letter.
and guess what, if i didn't have adorable little ones to care for and love on all day, i'd LOVE to do jury duty. i think it would be so interesting--long and often boring, but interesting for sure.
maybe you can find out a head of time if a trip to the morgue would somehow included in your civic duty. not THAT would be worth it, right?
wow, did you catch all the errors in my comment? sorry about that. it's the afternoon. (as if that's different from how my brain functions in the morning or evening!)
heehee kristen, i know, colorado apparently has no such provisions. i'll let you know if i go to jail for sure!!!
and YES, i'd TOTALLY go to the morgue to fulfill my duty.
(i too would love to sit on a jury someday!!!!!)
i think you should show up with all your kids in tow. i wonder what they would say? hah. good luck, thats a tough situation. i wouldn't leave my precious baby with a stranger either.
I would totally show up with the kids...maybe the next time you get a summons there will be an exception like the one here in CA. ;o)
I agree. Its not fair to moms or kids.
Yep, I'd take the kids too. You're a package deal.
I've been called for jury duty several times and always written in to say I have a baby who I was breastfeeding and if they wanted the baby to join the jury I'd be happy to report. Excused from duty every time! I'd just bring the snotty kid into court with you and let her sneeze on people.
Sorry I read this too late to probably be of any help, but...at least in Boulder, if you call and tell them your situation they can reschedule for you. It won't get you off, but might at least postpone until the kids are well, and then maybe hubby can take off that day??? Anyway, next time call and give your sob story ahead of time (don't just skip and wait for the mean letter). You never know, you might get a sympathetic ear on the other end (or might not, but its worth a try). I had mine postponed because it was for the day I got back from Ethiopia! But they did reschedule it.
yeah the problem with rescheduling is, kevin has to be at work, and there is no way he's taking paid-time-off so i can go to jury duty. :) sooo we'll see what happens.
Just last week I too got my first jury summons for CA, in May. It's a ways off, and hopefully we won't have any sick kids (we have 3) but we're just going to plan on me going (if I have to) and my hubby will come home for a while that morning. I've heard that if you show up, and don't get picked for the jury (which most likely will happen? hope hope) that you get "off" for a lot longer than if you give an excuse and postpone the assignment.
Hopefully it will just be a couple of hours (which my husband can make up at work) and we'll be done with it for a few years.
Before I had kids I was assigned to a grand jury. It's a fascinating process but tricky with young 'uns. I hope it all works out for you!
i know it's too late, but i would vote for bringing all the kids, too.
My neighbor got selected two years ago with two little ones at home. It sucked. Luckily she has a very nice next door neighbor (not me) although I would have helped if she needed it.
Seriously Dude...Go and get it out of the way!
did you go? i want to hear the rest of the story! :) pretty please?
I'm just getting caught up with my blogs. I'm curious to know what you did! That is a sucky Colorado rule. Dang.
Did you end up going? Your option #2 is pretty stupid, IMO, since (depending on the judge) you can get a warrant issued for your arrest for skipping jury duty. You complain now about the inconvenience, but that's nothing compared to the inconvenience of being arrested, possibly in front of your kids or in front of other moms and their kids. The smart thing would be to just suck it up and go do your jury duty like a normal person. The world doesn't stop for you just because you decided to have kids.
Ninja, I have to wonder why you're even reading my blog. And calling what I said stupid. And wanting to know about something I did nearly TWO YEARS ago. Yikes. And, I hope it's okay if I don't give you my answer, because I'd rather avoid any further name calling or general rudeness from your corner of the internet.
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