About a month ago I went to the mailbox and found a jury
summons. Now don’t get me wrong, I like
and want to do my civic duty but I get summoned every three years or so. I have served on both criminal and civil
cases and missed up to a week of work on several occasions. I’ve gone
many times to the Kansas City Courthouse and the Independence Courthouse for
jury duty. Slightly frustrated, I put
the summons on the table with the other mail and went about some other things I
had been doing.
The next day I remembered I left the summons on the table and went to get it. It wasn’t there! I tore the house up (twice) looking for it and never found it. You have to have your summons because it has your juror number and jury card. You must show up on the assigned date or be fined and /or jailed! I was freaking out as I have never lost anything like that. I tried calling the jury office and of course could not get a real person. The recording gave me an email address to write and it also let me leave a message. Over the following four weeks, I left a message and emailed every week with no response. Luckily, I remembered the date and location of service but I was sure nervous about arriving without my juror number and card.
This past Monday morning I received a phone call from the jury office! I was never so happy to hear from someone. She apologized for the delay. Jury duty was canceled for a year during the pandemic and apparently they are still catching up. I was not able to get a copy of my jury card but she did give me my juror number and confirmed the date and location. So next Tuesday I will go to the courthouse with that information and see how it goes. There is a chance I won’t have to serve because that is the second day that week for jury selection. There is a possibility they will have the number of people they need by then. If they don’t, I will happily do my duty.
Sophie & Zeus say Hi!
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| Sophie |
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| Zeus |
I wonder if the card will show up eventually? I'm glad you at least set your mind at rest by getting your number. You can't be the first person to mislay your card!
ReplyDeleteI was really stressing about it for a few weeks. I have a feeling "someone" accidently threw it away. He did that with his first covid card! At least it is basically okay now.
DeleteHell - you have been called up a lot Bonnie! I was only called up once and it is highly unlikely that I will ever do jury service again. Many people I know have never been called up.
ReplyDeleteI know people that would loved to be called and they never receive a summons. It seems like others are on an automatic recall list! Some of the cases are interesting but it can be a bit of trouble especially for the ones in Kansas City. I'm not crazy about the driving and looking for parking there!
DeleteBonnie, I am so sorry for all the stress you've been going through! My gosh I wonder why you get called so much? I was chosen to serve on an assault case 10 years ago this April, I wrote a really big blog about it with pictures and everything. I haven't been called back since, I think I was making too many mean faces at the guy on trial and the DA noticed! Anyway, I'm glad you got part of this resolved for now and I hope you come back and let us know what happened! 🙂👍
ReplyDeleteDoug, I'm just happy to finally have my juror ID#. That's funny that you were making mean faces at the guy! I will tell you all about whatever happens but if I get on a case I can't talk about it until it's over. I'm hoping it will turn out that they don't need me!
DeleteI wanted to tell you I made your stuffed peppers tonight and we both loved them! Thanks for the recipe!
Wow! Thanks Bonnie! 🙂👍
DeleteI've been called for jury duty three times and was never chosen.
ReplyDeleteGetting called three times so far is not too bad. Many of the times I was called I just sat and waited and didn't get on a case. But other times I was chosen. You never know what to expect.
DeleteI have only been called up once. Harvey has never been called.
ReplyDeleteGlad you managed to get some answers.
God bless.
Thanks Jackie. I wonder if different countries may have a limit on how many times they can call you? Here they can call you every three years but still some people never get called.
DeleteI have been called twice and let off both times because I had a newborn and then because the courthouse has no decent way to get a handicapped (me) to the place I had to go. Twice in 79 years is pretty slim.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, twice in 79 years is not bad! The first time I was ever called I was pregnant and got off for that reason.
DeleteBy the way Joanne - Happy Birthday! 😀
I have never been called but would consider it an interesting experience, plus of course a chance to do my duty as a citizen. Doesn't it drive you crazy when you KNOW you have put something in a certain place, and when you next look for it, it isn't there? It rarely happens to me (especially since I live on my own), but when it does, I seriously doubt my brain's health!
ReplyDeleteHello Zeus and Sophie - lovely to see you! :-x
Yes, it does drive me crazy to lose things like that! Jury duty can be interesting but it can also be very boring even if you are on a case. There tends to be a lot of sitting and waiting involved so it is a good time to read!
DeleteZeus and Sophie are happy to hear from you!
I hate it when you put something down and then can't find it, it's not an age thing with me, I've done it all through my life. Jury duty is interesting proving your case is not to distressing, I've done it once and been excused a second time.
ReplyDeleteIt is frustrating to lose items like that! Yes, jury duty can be interesting but I agree that some cases can also be distressing. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteFor many years my first husband was a civil servant involved in the Prison Service so we were exempt from Jury Duty. Now I am way too old. Can't say I am sorry. I would nevr have felt happy at giving an opinion on a crime.
ReplyDeleteI can see where you and your husband would be excused due to his job. I agree there are some cases that I would not be comfortable on. Thanks for stopping by Pat!
DeleteBonnue, I would have been scared to death! Isn't it funny that a piece of mail that important would get lost. But how it goes. Glad it worked out for you. I would panic too if I was called for jury duty as much as you have been. Only once have I had jury duty. Your cats are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt was driving me crazy that I knew where I put it yet it was gone! I do get a little stressed out every time I get called but the good thing about it is that once I go then they can't call me for another three years! Our cats are spoiled but we sure do love them!
DeleteThat seems like an unusually high number of times you've been called for duty, compared to here anyhow. I was called once and my husband never. I didn't have to serve; as soon as they asked me my husband's line of work they excused me (he was an accountant). I was relieved, as we had two young children at home and I had no idea how we would find someone to look after them on such short notice. Also, the stipend for jury duty is pitifully small and would never cover hiring a babysitter. You are to be commended for your service to the justice system. Without jurors it could not function.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you didn't have to serve especially with small children at home. The jury stipend here is also very small. It is just supposed to cover your car gas expenses but these days it won't even do that! Around here it seems like some people get called all the time and others never get called!
DeleteHi Sophie and Zeus. Well I hope it works out the best way for you, Bonnie, and I am glad they finally got in touch with you. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mr. Shife! I'm just glad I have my juror number now. I hope you and your family are doing good!
DeleteI have yet to serve on a jury. I was supposed to last fall, but it never worked out, which was fine with me.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Here they have you call the night before you are to go and once in awhile they already have enough people and you don't have to go. That's what I'm hoping for but I'll do what I have to do. Thanks for stopping by Janie!
DeleteWow! What a panic situation! Glad you got it worked out and hopefully you will not have to serve this time! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Charlie! I still can't believe that jury summons disappeared! I am thankful they finally called me back and at least I have my juror number now. I hope you are well!
DeleteI forgot to say how gorgeous your kitties are! Their coloration is beautiful and their M's on their little foreheads are so clear :D
ReplyDeleteAh, thank you! We sure do love them and they make our life so much better. Their M's are very clear. They are brother and sister and look just alike except Zeus is taller and longer than Sophie. I love it when you have pictures of your cats too!
DeleteI am always highly stressed when something like that happens--a rarity here. No clue as to where they went or how...and when they are important--OMGosh! Glad it is probably straightened out. Hopefully! :)
ReplyDeleteThese things really stress me out too. I could not believe it when I couldn't find it. I'm just glad they finally called me back and at least I have my juror number!
DeleteI have always wanted to do jury duty. My husband has served a number of times...me never:(
ReplyDeleteI have heard that from many people. I'm starting to think they just call the same ones over and over.
DeleteI would have been praying to St Anthony to find it for me. I never lose things, probably like you, so it is terrible to mislay something, especially as important as that. I have never been called for Jury service. Xxx
ReplyDeleteYou are right, I never lose things, in fact I am more likely to save more than I should. It was stressful to have it disappear and then more so to not be able to get hold of the jury office. I'm grateful now to finally have been contacted and at least get the juror number. When I go that should get me by although they may not be happy with me.
DeleteI forgot to say how much I love the pictures of Zeus and Sophie. Xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you! I kind of love them too. xxx
DeleteGlad to have you stop by my blog and am enjoying visiting yours. Cats are cute! Can appreciate your concern with the misplaced jury summons but glad you've been able to finally resolve it.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog through Doug's blog and I have really enjoyed your posts. Thank you for stopping by Joared, it is nice to see you here!
DeleteOh, my...I hope all went well. I have served a couple times.
ReplyDeleteHi Rose, I don't know why I get called so often but at least here they have to wait three years before they can call you again!
DeleteBeautiful kitties, Bonnie.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your jury duty is like ours in Canada. They call an enormous number to show up and choose a tiny few in the end. But you are right, it is a serious thing and part of our civic duty to serve. I've never been contacted. One of my friends got chosen for a murder trial which is rare here;she never felt the same afterwards safety wise. Oh my.
Hello Jocelyn, welcome to my blog! You are lucky if you've never been contacted for jury duty. Overall it is usually very boring sometimes even if you are on a case because so much time is spent waiting. I've been on a criminal trial but never a murder case. That would be disturbing. Thanks for stopping by my blog, I'm off to see yours now! 🙂
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