Another jury summons (Tampa, Sarasota, Bradenton: credit card, home, unemployed)

[Picshooter]

Some of the same excuses are valid here. Check the box and mail it back.
Numbers are assigned here too, as is calling the night before. After about two hours of waiting,around 11 they called 50 names and told them they could have an extended lunch, returning at one. After they all left the clerk told the rest of us we were free to go.
Ironically, the two "bored" women were picked.

Originally Posted by macrodome2

You were asking about the likelihood of being called so often. I don't know if Fl has an automatic excuse based on age, but in the county we live in in NJ, if you are 75, you can just return the summons checking the box that you are over 75 and elect not to serve.

Do you always have to report and sit in the room to see if you get picked? We get a number assigned where you call the night before and listen to a recording which tells you if you have to report or not (they give a range of numbers and if you're in it you report). If you report, then you sit in the room to see if you get picked. If you don't get picked that day, you are done. Whether you have to report or not, you're good for not being called again within the next 2 years.

Also, as to the women wishing to get picked. There should be provision for "bored" people to volunteer.

[nphomeowner]

Originally Posted by Mr. Conover

Jury duty is a very small price to pay for the privilege of living in the greatest country in the world. In light of the fact that people have sacrificed life and limb to preserve my right to a jury of my peers, I find any complaints about inconvenience very difficult to take.

While I agree with most of what you say, I also don't think I would want a jury selected out of people that have no desire to be there. I fall into the category of no desire to go, I do because I have to but the minute I'm eligible I'll be checking that box for exemption. I know this won't get positive response but I'm simply being honest.

[macrodome2]

Considering the average age in the area, there may be many people over 75 checking that box to opt out, which would account for having to cycle through the same names over and over again.

[d4g4m]

From what I'm reading, it seems that once they have your name on a list, they keep recycling the same names, not adding new people even though the population of the County has quadrupled.

[Sunnydee]

Originally Posted by osric

It's supposed to be random selection, so some people will inevitably get called multiple times and others not at all. I got called five times over 20 years in Boston and served on all but the Grand Jury (which would have been a 3-month period; my employer wouldn't pay me so I got excused). I don't mind doing it since the system wouldn't work without a decent jury pool available for trials.

Originally Posted by yellowsky

Four times for the both of us in the four years we have been here. Pretty difficult when so many are snowbirds. I would say that the OP is doing quite well at three times in ten years.

Five times over twenty years sounds a lot more reasonable than four times in four years.

[bbronston]

I'll probably jinx myself (JK) but I've been here since late 1986 and I have never been called. My wife has been called 2-3 times but never asked to serve. I know several others who have been called more than once. It is a mystery.

[nphomeowner]

Good point about them not being able to prove you received the summons! I didn't get a couple bills that I know are due, thank goodness I know what they are and paid them anyway. So if I don't get my bills how can I get a jury summons? Post office can't find the right house, my problem? I think not!

[CBXBIKE]

Been in Bradenton for 4 years and have been called twice,dismissed twice... Seems odd?

[coastal chic]

I've been called up 2x in 24 years. I opted out the first time because I was a SAHM with a baby. The second time, I called the night before, and was excused. I was kind of looking forward to serving that time as I've never been in a court room (knock on wood) and thought it would be interesting.

[phma]

I didn't know how it was decided who gets called until OSRIC mentioned it's random selection. I wonder if the public is entitled to see that process take place and/or if there are any documents that could be obtained by the freedom of information act ? I would think there would be some kind of computer program involved depending on how advanced the computer systems are. These days the government tells us one thing and apon investigation we find sometimes it's not as we are told.