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Post by bothmykidsrbrats on May 18, 2016 7:12:08 GMT
My DS will be a HS senior next year. He will also be 18, and eligible to vote, which he has been very exited about, forever. Our jury pool comes from voter registration. Everyone I know, including myself, received their 1st ever jury summons within 3 months of registering to vote, whether they were 18 or 60 something. Our district court gives zero f*cks why you can't serve. I got summoned when DD was 2 months old. I called for an extension, because I was a SAHM, with no child care, and I chose not to bottle feed my children. I was told "how nice, you have 6 weeks get wean your child, and find a baby sitter. Your civic duties out trump your mommy duties". My MIL received a summons 2 weeks after my FIL passed away, after being his main care giver, on home hospice. MIL told them she needed some time to clear her head, before she could serve. They told her her date was 8 weeks away. "Plenty of time to gather herself." I have checked the exemptions, and HS students are defiantly expected to serve. Exams, and championship basketball games are not an excuse. Your civic duty is more important than grades, attendance, and scholarships. The chances of him being picked to serve are pretty slim, I'm sure, but he could have to sit in court for days before he is excused. In his own words.. "Getting called for jury duty could ruin everything I've worked for, but so could Donald Trump." If he was your child, what advise would you give him? I am just so torn. It really feels like a good kid might be punished for others bad deeds. He's a 4 year varsity basketball player, with a 3.8 GPA, and 4 absences in 3 years (excluded basketball travel). The most frugal kid in the world bought his own "I'm With Her" t shirt, when his father and I were still dating Bernie. Thanks! *UPDATE with new info. Apparently, six years ago the "star" of the basketball team was an 18 year old senior. He received his first jury summons, and his date to appear was during basketball season. I do not know if he asked to be deferred, or just assumed a high school kid would not be chosen, but he was. He served 11 days. That means he missed at least 11 practices, 22 if he was not attending the 5:30 am practices , and probably 4 games. Missing 4 practices gets you automatically terminated from the team. The coach decided he would not make an exception because of jury duty, and cut him. The kid would have had athletic scholarship offers, and instead dropped out of school. I think the coaches advise about thinking twice before registering to vote was more of a remember, I ruined one persons future, and I will do it again, type of threat. The man is truly a horrible human being. DS has decided to register to vote, and hopes lightning doesn't strike the same team twice.  |
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Grom Pea
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by Grom Pea on May 18, 2016 7:20:40 GMT
I'm not sure where you live but in the two states I've lived, students are allowed to reschedule jury duty for a time when they're home from school, eg the summer or winter break. It doesn't even sound like he's been selected yet so I'd worry about it later if later ever comes.
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Deleted
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Jun 1, 2024 15:19:32 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2016 7:26:41 GMT
I would tell him this is his first tough adult 18 year old decision. Only he can make it. Depending on when his birth day is he may get his jury duty call before exams and basketball championships are an issue. I'm guessing his birthday is summer or early fall, otherwise voting in this year's elections will be a moot point anyway in which case he may be ok with waiting to register until school is over this year.
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gsquaredmom
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Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on May 18, 2016 7:31:58 GMT
Are you sure it's only from voter registration. Around here that is an urban legend. They pull from drivers licenses, directory listings, all over the place.
I also find it hard to believe they would pull a high school student.
He should vote. My first experience was Presidential and I will ALWAYS remember how it felt. I was thrilled to vote.
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Post by bothmykidsrbrats on May 18, 2016 8:07:30 GMT
I thought I was clear in my OP, but maybe not. No exceptions for HS students. No verification of where the jury pool comes from. Just life experience.
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Deleted
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Jun 1, 2024 15:19:32 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2016 8:10:13 GMT
I thought I was clear in my OP, but maybe not. No exceptions for HS students. No verification of where the jury pool comes from. Just life experience. What is the school's policy on students serving jury duty? While he obviously can't make up a basketball game he missed does the school allow schoolwork/exams to be made up if the student is called to jury duty? |
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Post by nlwilkins on May 18, 2016 8:14:23 GMT
Perhaps if you think of it this way. Its his first chance to be a full-fledged citizen and all that it entails and then he ops out. Not a good way to start off.
Also it sounds like you are borrowing trouble ahead of time. You have no way of knowing how it will happen. He may not get called, he may get called at the worst time possible, he may get called and the system may have changed. Perhaps if it would have such a drastic effect on his grades and life, his coach could help out.
I find it hard to believe that the courts are so strict on it. Sounds like somone in your local court system is letting their power go to their heads and it should be looked into - Here is an idea, PERHAPS it is something that your son can start a movement/protest publicity about and get it changed. Students/citizens should not have to suffer so for doing their civic duty. Most places allow people to reschedule for good reasons. Most places do not require mothers of infants to even serve. Most places are humane which it sounds like yours is not.
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Post by mom on May 18, 2016 8:14:43 GMT
I cannot believe that a school would negatively influence a students grade because they had documented jury duty. You can't be fired for having jury duty if you are an at-will employee.
I think if a person wants to dodge jury duty, for whatever reason, they will do so. Right now its because he doesn't want to miss a game. Later on, it could be for many other reasons. Doing the right thing isn't always convenient.
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Post by bothmykidsrbrats on May 18, 2016 8:25:39 GMT
I thought I was clear in my OP, but maybe not. No exceptions for HS students. No verification of where the jury pool comes from. Just life experience. What is the school's policy on students serving jury duty? While he obviously can't make up a basketball game he missed does the school allow schoolwork/exams to be made up if the student is called to jury duty? You abide the law and suck it. |
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Post by papercrafteradvocate on May 18, 2016 8:26:07 GMT
Jury duty is not a punishment.
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Post by mlynn on May 18, 2016 8:28:56 GMT
To be honest, I would delay registering. With the electoral college, every vote does not count. The representatives in some states do not even have to vote according to how the citizenry votes. On the state level, every vote counts. Local level, too. Even federal senators and representatives, I think. But not the president.
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Post by bothmykidsrbrats on May 18, 2016 8:31:41 GMT
Jury duty is not a punishment. I was going to respond. |
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Post by monklady123 on May 18, 2016 9:20:40 GMT
Jury duty is not a punishment. It may not be a punishment but it can be dang inconvenient sometimes. OP, if I lived in your area I'd be seeing what I could do to change your system there. Who ever heard of a nursing mother being required to do jury duty? Or being told to "get over" grief, or "wean your baby"? Seriously? Someone in that court system needs to retire. As for what your son should do -- I remember my own kids' excitement to vote for the first time, and this would be a great election to start one's voting record with... So I don't know. Yeah, not too helpful, sorry. |
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Post by disneypal on May 18, 2016 10:10:17 GMT
I would encourage him to register to vote. The odds of them calling him soon are not high and if by some reason he does get selected, he can deal with it then (perhaps he will be out if school when selected).
I don't think you can live your life on "What ifs" because any numerous things may or may not happen.
It it is exciting and responsible to vote and he is eligible, so he should register to vote.
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Deleted
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Jun 1, 2024 15:19:32 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2016 10:28:00 GMT
It's his decision. In 1980, when I turned 18, I was called for jury duty my freshman year of college in a different state than I was registered to vote. Obviously the summons wasn't based on voter rolls. I went. I missed class, told the professor why, and made up the work. It was a big fat nonissue.
If your son is passionate about voting in the election, then he'll have to consider his options and make a decision that works for him. Sounds like he's perfectly capable of doing that. I imagine it's illegal for the school to punish him for doing his civic duty, but it would be easy to ask his principal and put that fear to rest.
I'm not sure where you live, but the two states I've lived in as an adult had options to postpone jury duty until it was more convenient.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on May 18, 2016 10:48:13 GMT
My personal advice to my child would be to register to vote and take his chances on getting called for jury duty. Both are important responsibilities that we should be willing to participate in as citizens.
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Edited to add that at age 18, that is a decision I would leave up to him to make.
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Post by Really Red on May 18, 2016 11:18:24 GMT
I was in CO and had newborn twins, both on oxygen, one on serious heart meds who had just had open heart surgery. I had no one there - no family and no one who was willing to take the risk of the heart meds (no day care would take that on). And yes, I still had to serve jury duty. I was planning on not going or bringing both babies, but the day my turn came up, I was fortunate enough not to be called in. I'm in VA with much better jury duty rules for new parents. My DD got a call 6 mos after she turned 18. She was in another state by then. I'd do it and hope for the best. And not just because I'm behind your son's reasons 100%  |
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Post by Scrapbrat on May 18, 2016 11:20:31 GMT
Being excused from jury duty and asking for a deferment are two different things -- is there an option for him to defer? My older DS got his first jury duty notice his second year in college. He does not go to school locally, and he got called during the actual school year. He was not eligible to be excused on that basis, but he WAS eligible for ONE deferment. I believe he could request a three-month window during the next 12 months that he would serve, so he chose that summer. I would be very surprised if there wasn't some type of deferment option where you live. That being said, though, I honestly cannot believe that you were told to wean an infant so you could serve jury duty. I was called when my now 16 year old was 2 months old, and I was nursing. Again, I was not eligible to be excused, but I was eligible for a deferment.
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SabrinaP
Pearl Clutcher
Busy Teacher Pea
Posts: 4,355
Location: Dallas Texas
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Post by SabrinaP on May 18, 2016 11:48:25 GMT
His decision. I think it's crap that your area doesn't let full time students out of jury duty that is an automatic exemption here.
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scrapaddie
Drama Llama
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Post by scrapaddie on May 18, 2016 11:55:50 GMT
You are borrowing trouble. And why would it affect his ability to play basketball? Well most schools have policies the students must be in school in order to play game, I would think this would be an exemption if it should happen.
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Post by annabella on May 18, 2016 11:56:51 GMT
I called for an extension, because I was a SAHM, with no child care, and I chose not to bottle feed my children. I was told "how nice, you have 6 weeks get wean your child, and find a baby sitter. Your civic duties out trump your mommy duties". My MIL received a summons 2 weeks after my FIL passed away, after being his main care giver, on home hospice. MIL told them she needed some time to clear her head, before she could serve. They told her her date was 8 weeks away. "Plenty of time to gather herself." I think you need to change your attitude. Your MIL asked for a deferment and was granted one. You got one as well and your husband could have taken one day off from work while you went to go serve and act in a way to make sure you weren't picked. Jury duty is inconvenient for a lot of people, but you have to do it. They don't have time to listen to everyone's excuses in detail. |
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Post by anxiousmom on May 18, 2016 12:03:59 GMT
Huh. I had a kid who turned 18 before he graduated (he was 18 for almost his entire senior year) and it never even occurred to me to think about this.  I would guess his school would simply excuse him and allow make up work. They are pretty good about that and to my knowledge neither of my kids have had issues with being told no for missing school even for some pretty sketchy reasons. Also, my district is pretty good about allowing excuses. I have had to do it once or twice, and all I had to do with check a box on a postcard, send it in and follow up with a phone call. I can't imagine that they would force a senior to miss classes. |
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Deleted
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Jun 1, 2024 15:19:32 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2016 12:08:39 GMT
I would call my county elections office and find out how jury selection is made. Next, I would call my local elected judge and/or sheriff and have a friendly conversation about past experiences with jury selection in your area and the responses you have received. In Texas, I know students and those who are primary caregivers are exempt from jury duty - not deferred but exempt. I would also find out what the fines are for not showing and *possibly* be prepared to pay it.
Having someone tell a mother with twins in the NICU that you have "six weeks to wean and find a babysitter" would not fly with me. I'm sure your elected officials would want to know how their constituents are being served.
Once you have that information you can better decision versus taking our word for it since each state can be widely different on jury duty rules.
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Post by just PEAchy on May 18, 2016 12:09:22 GMT
My kids have been in 3 different school districts and jury duty has always been an excused absence. I can't imagine a district penalizing a student for doing his/her civic duty. A basketball game may be a different story, though if it's in the evening, jury duty should be over and he could still play. I guess he needs to weigh what's most important to him, taking into account that he won't necessarily be called.
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Post by Meri-Lyn on May 18, 2016 12:14:45 GMT
Wow, I'm shocked that they make high school students go to jury duty. Not here. You are excused if you provide your class schedule and your student ID card. Also, jury pool is mostly picked from Driver's Licenses.
I look at it this way. The odds of getting called are somewhat slim. As an adult, it's going to be his decision to make, but I would advise him to go ahead and register.
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Post by jbelle on May 18, 2016 12:31:02 GMT
When my children became of age they were thrilled to serve jury duty. It never crossed their minds as it being an inconvenience. I was so proud of that in them.
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Country Ham
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Jun 25, 2014 19:32:08 GMT
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Post by Country Ham on May 18, 2016 12:33:31 GMT
As for what your son should do -- I remember my own kids' excitement to vote for the first time, and this would be a great election to start one's voting record with... So I don't know. Yeah, not too helpful, sorry. Jury Duty and Voting are both important civic duties. Great election to start one's voting record with? This is my first federal election as a US citizen and I am beyond disbelief about how awful my choices are. It saddens me honestly. |
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kelly8875
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Post by kelly8875 on May 18, 2016 12:33:38 GMT
Geez. Suck it up. You're freaking out about something that hasn't happened yet, that you have no idea if will happen, and something that has nothing to do with you.
He'll be an adult. If he's wanting to vote, he should register. Around here, jury pools are also chosen from drivers records.
If he gets called, the school can excuse him for his civic duty.
Jury duty is not a punishment.
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Post by peatlejuice on May 18, 2016 13:37:45 GMT
In his own words.. "Getting called for jury duty could ruin everything I've worked for, but so could Donald Trump." This is what stands out to me in your post. It seems like your son understands there's a chance he'll have to respond to jury summons in his senior year, and he's willing to take that chance. Be proud that your son has so much pride and passion in being a good citizen and let him register. |
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basketdiva
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Post by basketdiva on May 18, 2016 13:56:05 GMT
"Getting called for jury duty could ruin everything I've worked for"I'm confused- how could having jury duty ruin everything?  Ruin what-he might miss a few days of school but he can easily make up the work.
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Ruin what-he might miss a few days of school but he can easily make up the work.