Jury Duty... am I the only one that has it every year? (Oakland: eviction, house)

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by phantompilot

Nobody is required to answer a jury duty notice.....why would you turn up some place just because they said so?

Because you might be that one person who gets fined for not showing. (And this is an article from over a decade ago.) They've cracked down in the past few years.

When a bailiff called his name, Brady Clark carefully placed his 20-ounce bottle of Dr Pepper on the floor of the Santa Monica courtroom.

Clad in flip-flops, surfer shorts and a blue T-shirt with "Sharkeez" stamped across the chest, Clark tucked his trucker hat under his folded arms as he approached Superior Court Judge Craig Karlan.

Before Karlan could speak, Clark felt compelled to explain his wardrobe.

"Excuse my attire," he said. "I wasn't aware this was a court hearing.

"I hope I don't get fined," the 27-year-old bartender muttered.

Clark had failed to respond to three notices summoning him for jury duty with the Los Angeles County Superior Court. But the order to show cause notice, threatening a $250 fine, got his attention.

Jury Duty No-Shows Get Their Day in Court - latimes

[CA4Now]

^^ more:

Alameda County is trying to increase juror participation with a year-old pilot project of contacting no-shows at its Hayward courthouse, said Paul Patterson, director of court support. He said they’re first sent a reminder to appear, then another summons with a new date, then a court notice of potential fines, which range from $250 for the first non-appearance to $1,500 for the third. The program has greatly increased the response rate and...

SFGate: Many in California

[shooting4life]

Originally Posted by phantompilot

Nobody is required to answer a jury duty notice. Do you work for the government?

No?

Then why would you turn up some place just because they said so?

Involuntary servitude is unconstitutional. Somehow this jury duty scam has managed to survive to this day.

You are required by law to attend when summonsed. That is what a summons is, a legal requirement to appear.



People always complain about the "system" then do everything in their power to avoid their responsibility to make that system better.

[phantompilot]

Originally Posted by shooting4life

You are required by law to attend when summonsed. That is what a summons is, a legal requirement to appear.



People always complain about the "system" then do everything in their power to avoid their responsibility to make that system better.

There is no law that requires you to serve on a jury.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by phantompilot

There is no law that requires you to serve on a jury.

We're talking about replying to the summons, not actually serving on a jury.

[shooting4life]

Originally Posted by phantompilot

There is no law that requires you to serve on a jury.

CCP 209.
(a) Any prospective trial juror who has been summoned for service, and who fails to attend as directed or to respond to the court or jury commissioner and to be excused from attendance, may be attached and compelled to attend. Following an order to show cause hearing, the court may find the prospective juror in contempt of court, punishable by fine, incarceration, or both, as otherwise provided by law.

[phantompilot]

Originally Posted by shooting4life

CCP 209.
(a) Any prospective trial juror who has been summoned for service, and who fails to attend as directed or to respond to the court or jury commissioner and to be excused from attendance, may be attached and compelled to attend. Following an order to show cause hearing, the court may find the prospective juror in contempt of court, punishable by fine, incarceration, or both, as otherwise provided by law.

Still NOT a law.

Do you know what CCP stands for? Has nothing to do with the LAW.

[shooting4life]

Originally Posted by phantompilot

Still NOT a law.

Do you know what CCP stands for? Has nothing to do with the LAW.

It has everything to do with law. If you violate the code of civil procedure, which is passed by the legislature as a law, you will be fined or imprisoned. The judge enforces ccp with sanctions and if you violate them enough you can face jail time as well as community service on top of fines. I have personally seen people who have not reported for jury service as order given 40 hours of community service for disobeying a court order.

[ccm123]

Over the past 20 years, have served on 8-9 jury trials and called for jury duty every year, on average.

[Ceece]

Alameda County calls many people annually and has been doing so for a long time. It never tracked anyone so tossing it or just not going did not result in any penalties. A few years ago the Hayward Court started keeping track so if you miss multiple summons people do know. It remains to be seen what "punishment" there will be in the future or if other Courts in the County will follow suit. HOWEVER, if you call to talk to someone your record is visible to them and they will tell you about it and let you know you may be fined or have a bench warrant put out for you.