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Hello everyone,
I was summoned for Grand Jury in Manhattan but actually, live in Queens. I receive mail at a former Manhattan address and my former roommate told me it had come, so I decided to take it and show up in person for this summons. I ended up at 100 Centre Street this week and early on the clerk had asked if anyone did not live in NYC, so I raised my hand and was sent to a small room. He had advised me to send/email two documents proving my Queens residency, so I went home and mailed some utility bills, my lease and tax forms to the suggested address. I did not have my summons stamped or signed in any way that said I showed up, and the clerk just collected it and told me I was done for the day.
Now that my paperwork for change of address has been sent, what is the probability that I will receive a Queens Grand Jury summons within the next week or month? Is it automatic, where if you can't serve for Manhattan you're immediately scheduled for Grand Jury in the actual borough you live in once your paperwork is situate- there is a record of the dismissal and it automatically gets you into the pool for the appropriate location, like some kind of list? Or is it really random and there is no telling whether or not a person who was dismissed will immediately be called back?
I know Grand Jury is completely different than Petit with this.
Beyond this concern, I am the manager of a very small business and the possibility of missing several weeks of work is something that would cause an extreme financial and professional strain on my job and well, me. This would take an enormous toll on my business and unfortunately my ability to keep a roof over my head and pay for medical bills. Missing a few days is somewhat of a stress but manageable, but having it exceed that would be nothing short of a nightmare. And I know Grand Jury is up to a month at least.
I know judges for Grand Jury want nothing to do with hearing your "excuses" and there is no interview selection where people can discuss hardship, but this is valid, legitimate hardship for me as a small business employee and human being trying to get by. For lack of better terms I will be up ****'s creek and have no idea how to handle this.
Now that my paperwork for change of address has been sent, what is the probability that I will receive a Queens Grand Jury summons within the next week or month?
You'll get one, [perhaps not that quick but It will come.
Last edited by SeventhFloor; 01-05-2019 at 12:24 PM..
If you get called, you have to say that the financial hardship and the stress of serving will cause you to be prejudiced. You have to use the word biased or prejudiced. In my experience, that is the only way to get off. They cannot let you off for financial hardship alone.
That is what a lawyer told my partner recently. He just went through this (in Manhattan, not grand jury). He didn't want to say he would be prejudiced. But in the end he had to.
I would think that for grand jury, though, the people in charge would be more sympathetic. The time commitment is a lot to ask of anyone.
One of the categories that can be exempted from service is below. If you are a person essential to the operation of the business, perhaps you can get out of it.
I hope I'm not giving you wrong info -- please look it up for yourself and don't rely just on this.
6.Actively practicing attorneys, physicians, dentists, registered nurses, police officers, firefighters, members of the clergy, or a person essential to the operation of a business, commercial or agricultural enterprise that would be closed if required to perform jury duty must submit proof of their profession or business ownership. Acceptable documentation may include but not limited to business license or certificate, corporation papers, or tax papers.
If you get called, you have to say that the financial hardship and the stress of serving will cause you to be prejudiced. You have to use the word biased or prejudiced. In my experience, that is the only way to get off. They cannot let you off for financial hardship alone.
That is what a lawyer told my partner recently. He just went through this (in Manhattan, not grand jury). He didn't want to say he would be prejudiced. But in the end he had to.
I would think that for grand jury, though, the people in charge would be more sympathetic. The time commitment is a lot to ask of anyone.
I got called and no excuses were accepted at all by any of the court workers . You had to hang out until you got called and then tell it to the judge ... only they can aye or nay you
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