RALFFERS 0 #1 July 11, 2008 Alright - so here's the scoop... I had Jury duty a few months ago, but like a putz, I forgot about it and thus did not go to the 1st court date. AS a result I got a 2nd notice in the mail a month or 2 later - it stated clearly that if I didn't show up this time I would be found in contempt of court. However, for whatever reason (I don't remember) I couldn't go to that 1 either...so I called the # provided to reschedule. I spoke with the lady, told her the whole story and asked like 3-5 times if she was SURE I could reschedule this 2nd date without being charged with contempt of court - she said yes. I was granted a 3 month extension and told a 3rd notice in the mail. Well, 3 months came & went; I still have yet to receive the letter. What [if anything] should I do?... Isn't contempt of court a felony or something?Dialogue/commentary between Divot, Twardo & myself - "from your first Oshkosh when the three of us were riding to or from one of Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #2 July 11, 2008 what i would have done is get her name and then follow up with a phone call 2 weeks later, if the letter didn't arrive. no it's your word against hers. Guess who they will believe 30 days in the county jail.... You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billeisele 130 #3 July 11, 2008 no worries - the food is free and you'll get to meet new people Give one city to the thugs so they can all live together. I vote for Chicago where they have strict gun laws. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LisaH 0 #4 July 11, 2008 Don't wait for the notice. Go to the courthouse and get it over with. Be yourself! MooOOooOoo Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RhondaLea 4 #5 July 11, 2008 Call the court and ask. It would be helpful if you had documented the conversation you had--i.e., date, time and name of the person you spoke to--but if you explain exactly what occurred in reasonable language (much as you did here), you shouldn't have a problem getting it resolved satisfactorily. Just do it soon.If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Squeak 17 #6 July 11, 2008 Quote Call the court and ask. It would be helpful if you had documented the conversation you had--i.e., date, time and name of the person you spoke to--but if you explain exactly what occurred in reasonable language (much as you did here), you shouldn't have a problem getting it resolved satisfactorily. Just do it soon. There ya go being all sensible and shitYou are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky) My Life ROCKS! How's yours doing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VectorBoy 0 #7 July 11, 2008 Quote no worries - the food is free and you'll get to meet new people And sex on the beach......ur the beach. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drdive 0 #8 July 11, 2008 Just tell them ---- "Yes, your honor, I have nothing but contempt for this court" - I guarantee you will not have to worry about jury dutyPS - you know what you call an attorney with an IQ of 60???????? "Your Honor" "We saved your gear. Now you can sell it when you get out of the hospital and upsize!!" "K-Dub" " Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skydemon2 0 #9 July 11, 2008 Pack your butt plug just in case....... Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone! I like to start my day off with a little Ray of Soulshine™!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skittles_of_SDC 0 #10 July 11, 2008 The lesson here is what? Thats right, not to vote. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #11 July 11, 2008 QuoteIsn't contempt of court a felony or something? Yeah, or something. If I were you, I'd start packing your sneakers and a toothbrush. Relax. Just call the court. And when you do, don't spazz. Just breathe normally and speak politely. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #12 July 11, 2008 Quote The lesson here is what? Thats right, not to vote. Actually, in most states they recognize the problem with that and so they supplement their juror pools with data from such sources as driver's license records, etc. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JohnRich 4 #13 July 11, 2008 Most courts, while they threaten contempt of court, do not actually go through with those threats. That's because there are so many juror no-shows that they would inundate the court with a flood of such contempt citations, and it's just not worth their time to prosecute them. So probably, there is no sword of Damocoles hanging over your head. Just call the court and find out what to do. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RhondaLea 4 #14 July 11, 2008 Quote There ya go being all sensible and shit "Sensible" is my basic nature. On the other hand, I got married, and I'm moving to Texas, so maybe not. If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 897 #15 July 11, 2008 As soon as possible, turn yourself in to the first friendly officer you find (is that even possible?), make it clear that you have a gun and are openly in contempt of court. The rest should simply take care of itself. Leave your toothbrush at home as it would only be confiscated anyway. Take as little identification as possible - hell your fingerprints are already in the criminal databse with your DNA sample anyway. Be prepared to meet new people. Some may recognize you from your dealer's home. YMMV motor voter was such a neat idea....Call the court Ralf, throw yourself at their mercy. Especially if she is a cute Latina emplyed by the great state of Illinois.(the "S" is not silent) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RhondaLea 4 #16 July 11, 2008 QuoteMost courts, while they threaten contempt of court, do not actually go through with those threats. That's because there are so many juror no-shows that they would inundate the court with a flood of such contempt citations, and it's just not worth their time to prosecute them. So probably, there is no sword of Damocoles hanging over your head. Just call the court and find out what to do. It's a bad idea to give legal advice when you don't know what you're talking about. Did you hear the one about the breastfeeding mother who was sentenced to a night in the clink for failure to appear? Probably not. There was enough public and political pressure exerted on the judge that he ended up letting her off the hook, but it's a bad idea to tell people that this is not an action (a criminal action, no less) that isn't prosecuted, because it is. There are a number of reported incidents; Google is your friend.If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #17 July 11, 2008 Did you have to sign a paper saying you received the summons for jury duty? If not, they have no proof you ever even received the notice...well other than your phone call if they have a record of that. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunshine 2 #18 July 11, 2008 QuoteThe lesson here is what? Thats right, not to vote. ------------------------------------------------------------- Actually, in most states they recognize the problem with that and so they supplement their juror pools with data from such sources as driver's license records, etc. That's how it is in Illiinois. I'm not a registered voter and i just got summoned for jury duty last week. ___________________________________________ meow I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 897 #19 July 11, 2008 Welcome to the bonfire RL. but seriously....unless you're "properly served" good luck proving they ever sent you anything. this works for court appearances as well.... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #20 July 11, 2008 Quote Welcome to the bonfire RL. but seriously....unless you're "properly served" good luck proving they ever sent you anything. this works for court appearances as well.... Whoa, not so fast, there pardner! Under the common law mailbox rule, proof of mailing of a properly addressed communication bearing proper postage creates a rebuttable presumption the communication was received. Adequate proof of mailing need not necessarily be the best one, such as a proof of mailing obtained at the post office - it can be as little as a clerk swearing that your summons was part of a stack of summonses that were mailed out in the ordinary course of business. Essentially, the rule shifts the burden to the recipient to prove that he didn't receive the item (as odd as that may seem). In plain English, trial judges constantly hear the excuse "I never got the juror summons" from recalcitrant jurors. As a practical matter, unless you can show that you were living at a different address from the one where the summons was mailed, most judges will be highly skeptical of the credibility of that excuse. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RhondaLea 4 #21 July 11, 2008 Quote Welcome to the bonfire RL. I'm thrilled to be back. Quote but seriously....unless you're "properly served" good luck proving they ever sent you anything. this works for court appearances as well.... Y'know, everyone has "a friend told a friend who told me" story, but mostly what I've seen is that people outside the legal system have a very strange understanding of the law and how the legal system works. It all comes unraveled when someone does what a friend says worked for his aunt's best friend's cousin's daughter-in-law's brother, and...surprise...it doesn't work a second time. A lot of lawyers get clients because small mistakes left to fester turn into huge problems that take all too much time and money to resolve.If you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
normiss 897 #22 July 11, 2008 The legal advice given to me repeatedly in the state of Florida, from a very well compensated attorney is "unless you received a certifed letter that you signed for or were served by an officer of the court you do not need to respond, nor would I advise you to" So that's what I'm going with in the state of Florida. If they NEED me, they know how to find me. If we should disagree on that, I have a highly paid attorney to argue it for me. The US Postal service is highly unreliable, hence the registered letter requirement for notification in this state. YMMV, based on the state and the jurisdiction. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RALFFERS 0 #23 July 11, 2008 Mark, I see what you're saying and very much agree... I just called, just to be on the safe side (I never had jury duty before - much less never hooky with it.) The lady from the office of Jury administration told me the dates of the I missed, the 2nd that I rescheduled...and the 3rd, that apparently came in March (I really never received that 1.) Anyway, she told me not to worry; looks like the "contempt of court" thing really is just a threat.Dialogue/commentary between Divot, Twardo & myself - "from your first Oshkosh when the three of us were riding to or from one of Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #24 July 11, 2008 QuoteYMMV, based on the state and the jurisdiction. My mileage varies with 25 years of practicing law. Much of it in Florida. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 7 #25 July 11, 2008 Anyway, she told me not to worry; looks like the "contempt of court" thing really is just a threat. Quote Just like John Rich said huh?! That's the main thing I don't like about our criminal justice system...your whole future is put in the hands of 12 people too dumb to get out of jury duty! ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
