Job Discussion Forums

[denise]

How do you get out of it? I was summoned a few months ago, but thanks to a technicality (my parents' little enclave, while in the same city, is technically across the county line), I got off. Still, my poor mom had to make a number of phone calls, go to the courthouse, etc., etc. And it was only a temporary fix to get me excluded just that one time.

Well, sure enough, just a few months later, I've been summoned again! I'm doing the same thing--saying that I don't actually live in the county. There are exemptions for military personnel serving abroad, but I didn't see any little box to tick for anyone else who works abroad. And once again, my dear mom will be making phone calls, visiting court houses, etc.--I'm sure she can think of better things to do with her time!

How do the rest of you deal with it?

d

[powerrose]

That's weird. We went in person because we were summoned right before we left the country and they accepted us verbally saying we were moving to China. And that was in New York City, which has worse red tape than China in most cases.

Could you call via skype and ask them if mailing back the form with a China lease might suffice?

[naturegirl321]

Ignore it. If problems arise, you show them your passport. Since you're not in country, you can't get the phone messages or letters that they sent to your parents.

[fladude]

The best thing to do is to contact the district, or judge, who issued the summons and let them know that you are out of the country.

[denise]

[fluffyhamster]

How can the US government possibly expect you to effectively give up your job? By rights, you should be exempt until you are actually resident again - I mean, it's not like the government of/employers in the foreign country you're currently living in are bound by some (reciprocal, international) law to somehow keep your job open for you, right? Which is all a way of saying that there must surely be some mention of this sort of situation (or, at least what you'd be reimbursed and/or compensated for) somewhere in the regs or guidelines...but the problem of course is that if your mum mentions the true facts of the case you could end up with no wriggle room/get-outs at all! Hmm, indeed tricky...

[natsume]

Hmm, I have never even considered this. The county of San Francisco, at least the election department, knows I live in Japan, so it would be odd if they sent something to my last address, but I suppose they might send something to my Japan address. I "borrowed" a friend's address in another county when I renewed my driver's license, so I guess I should tell them to keep a heads up for that.

I'm with Denise on staying aboveboard on this. There is also the notion of "civic duty" to consider. I know it is a huge pain in the ass and unfair for many working people, but I was lucky enough to work for a fully supportive company the one time I was called for a trial that lasted about 3 weeks. I think everybody should do it at least once, if they can.

This is from the California jurors website:

"Exemptions/excuses/postponements: By law, no one who meets the basic criteria is automatically exempted from service. The law does provide for hardship excuses. Hardship is defined by law and includes no reasonable transportation, excessive travel, extreme financial burden..."

It then goes on to say you must contact your local (county) jury office to explain your reasons for an exemption. I believe buying a last minute plane ticket from Japan and traveling halfway around the world can be reasonably defined as a "hardship" under these definitions, but it looks like the onus is on me to contact them first.

[naturegirl321]

[natsume]