Jury Duty in Scranton (Lancaster, Luzerne: hotel, employment, buy)

[newjerseybt]

What the heck is up with the Scranton Courthouse? Members of my family being summoned to serve 38 miles away? Nothing like driving back and forth 76 miles a day for weeks with no employment getting 10 miles per gallon with a truck.

Can't they get locals to serve? Makes sense to me. I hope I am not called. I can't afford it.

Anyone know what compensation is paid if any?

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by newjerseybt

What the heck is up with the Scranton Courthouse? Members of my family being summoned to serve 38 miles away? Nothing like driving back and forth 76 miles a day for weeks with no employment getting 10 miles per gallon with a truck.

Can't they get locals to serve? Makes sense to me. I hope I am not called. I can't afford it.

Anyone know what compensation is paid if any?

This must be a Federal case. All Federal cases regionally are held in Scranton. I was recently excused from serving on jury duty here in Luzerne County due to having a scheduling conflict as a student. It seems as if it's very unfair to provide such little compensation though, especially for those who have to travel such vast distances. I wish your family best of luck.

[newjerseybt]

Thanks for a quick reply SWB.

Maybe they need to select far away from Scranton as possible to reduce the chances of having direct knowledge of a case.

If I am selected, I'll buy a Rush Limbaugh T-Shirt to ensure being kicked off.

[poconosmama]

My husband recently got stuck on grand jury duty in scranton which is every other tuesday for 18 months give or take. It's abour $50 a day, 25 miles each way and he's usually about by 1pm. Such a waste of time and a waste of days away from his job. Like you said they should try for more local. And there were no excuses for grand jury. Doesnt matter that he's the only one that works in the household and that he works in nj, did not care

[mgb]

My sister lives in Lancaster and she has jury duty in Phila, so it's not just here. Her daughter also had to stay in Phila for 3 nights because she was afraid to drive there by herself, so she also had the hotel expense.

[The Commish]

Originally Posted by newjerseybt

If I am selected, I'll buy a Rush Limbaugh T-Shirt to ensure being kicked off.

You'll probably need more than that to get kicked off during voir dire.



Something like "my wife's sister's cousin's uncle's monkey's trainer works for the DA/ public defenders office/ etc"

[Bagldot]

I think it's getting harder anywhere to get out of jury duty. Even in Jersey, my husband got called when was a police officer and couldn't get excused. However, he wasn't chosen to be on any cases, so it was time wasted away from work. Medical excuses seem to work, but they need to be compelling.

[mgb]

What I find really scary is the fact that the defendent's outcome is in the hands 12 people who all want to be somewhere else. Keeps me on the straight & narrow, though.