Jury Duty

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dermie1985

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Not sure if anyone can comment on this, but I'm a PGY-1 preliminary intern and I just got summoned for jury duty for early June. First time ever. I'm on a research elective that week so can probably miss clinical duties, but don't want to be selected for a long trial as I'm moving from my intern year program to my categorical residency in another state at the end of the month. Also already had plans to travel to said state the following week to start the moving process while on a research elective (already have a place set-up as my partner lives there). Also, not sure how my program would feel about me potentially missing some end-of-the year time as I won't have an opportunity to make it up before leaving and not sure how this would work.

Just wanted to gauge people's experiences with jury duty during residency/intern year specifically.
One option I've thought of is that the system lets you change your summons date to any week within 6 months of the original date (i.e. I could postpone until as late as early December). Would it be ethical to postpone the date and then submit a request for non-qualification (as I'd no longer be a resident of that city/state at that point?).
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My program director advised us to let him know, and he would write a letter saying something to the extent that jury duty would be detrimental to our career and prolong training, etc... He said each time he wrote a letter like that, the resident was excused from jury duty, and they were excused from clinical duties to show up for the initial thing. You might want to talk with both your intern and residency program directors since you're in a situation where you're moving, and you should be changing state residencies.

I never got summoned for jury duty in residency, but I've been excused from it a few times mostly for being a student out of state and once when I was summoned when I was 17 years old.
 
If you're moving to another state that month, I would write them back and tell them that you will be ineligible to serve because you're moving OOS and will no longer be a resident of your current state as of June. Sure, you can postpone your summons date to July first if it makes you feel better. But I assume the reason why you are going to your new state a few weeks early is to take care of things like finding somewhere to live, getting your license/registration updated, etc. You know, all the things you do when you're setting up residency in a new state. 🙂

I got called for jury duty during residency also. Sat for a few hours in a room in a small town an hour's drive away, then was dismissed. Used a day off to do it, which was annoying, but at least it was fall and I got to take a nice drive through the countryside there and back.
 
dermie1985 said:
Not sure if anyone can comment on this, but I'm a PGY-1 preliminary intern and I just got summoned for jury duty for early June. First time ever. I'm on a research elective that week so can probably miss clinical duties, but don't want to be selected for a long trial as I'm moving from my intern year program to my categorical residency in another state at the end of the month. Also already had plans to travel to said state the following week to start the moving process while on a research elective (already have a place set-up as my partner lives there). Also, not sure how my program would feel about me potentially missing some end-of-the year time as I won't have an opportunity to make it up before leaving and not sure how this would work.

Just wanted to gauge people's experiences with jury duty during residency/intern year specifically.
One option I've thought of is that the system lets you change your summons date to any week within 6 months of the original date (i.e. I could postpone until as late as early December). Would it be ethical to postpone the date and then submit a request for non-qualification (as I'd no longer be a resident of that city/state at that point?).
Click to expand...

You may not actually be selected as a juror for one, for two, you can always say things that would disqualify you - ie - you have strong x beliefs about whatever issue the trial is about, or you think the person is guilty/innocent, etc. I also got summoned, I told the judge I was a resident and felt that my time would be better served in my residency vs. in a court room. He excused me, end of story. Dont' have to deal with it for at least another 4 years or so if ever again.
 
I agree that the first thing to do is talk to your PD. How jury duty is seen and the selection process is very dependent on the locality. Your PD will know what the best option is. Your institution almost certainly has some risk management / legal department who will also know.
 
If you are moving out of the county/state prior to your serve date, you may just need to send a letter back stating it. This happened to my wife and she just had to return the jury duty notification card noting she will no longer be a county resident. Call the court if this situation applies to find out if this will get you out.
 
My residency wasn't able to get anybody sprung from jury duty.
If you are empaneled you can try and talk to the judge and explain why it would be a hardship, and sometimes that works.
You could always say you are racist or something similarly off color and that usually gets you off the jury but might get you beat up on the way out to the parking lot.
 
Knock on wood... Wasn't called for jury duty as a Med student or resident, so far. I guess there is 4-5 months left..
 
i did not get ouy of jury duty as a resident either. i wasted a whole day off and only got sprung because i knew an expert witness after spending the entire day while they attempted to fill the jury and i was called late.

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The vast, vast, vast majority of trials are half a day to a day or so, so it's very unlikely to be called for a long trial. See if your program coordinator can do something to get you out, but if not, show up and let them know your limitations if you get called for jury selection. No one will force you to serve on a jury for a long trial if you're planning on moving in that time period.
 
It might greatly depend on the county because I got a jury summons last week and had the option on the website to tell them why I can't come to jury duty (just said that I'm a medical student and I can't miss classes/finals) and they dropped my duty completely the next day.
 
Law2Doc said:
My residency wasn't able to get anybody sprung from jury duty.
If you are empaneled you can try and talk to the judge and explain why it would be a hardship, and sometimes that works.
You could always say you are racist or something similarly off color and that usually gets you off the jury but might get you beat up on the way out to the parking lot.
Click to expand...


I heard that if you whisper, "Jury Nullification" into the judge's ear, you get released.
Also...
 
I would echo what several previous posters have mentioned:

1. Automatically request the full timeframe allowed for extension.

2. Many jurisdictions do not make accommodations for economic or occupational reasons, so don't necessarily assume you can get out of jury duty on those grounds alone.

3. You can get dismissed if you open your big mouth during voir dire, but it's a fine line. These judges and lawyers have heard it all and keep in mind that virtually every potential juror there is trying to do the same as you. I was called for a medical malpractice case about 2 years ago. There were 60 potential jurors and the judge said the trial would probably last 3 weeks. When he asked if anyone had any strong feelings about the issues presented in the case, I immediately raised my hand and said I felt patients should only be able to sue physicians for obvious and gross negligence and most malpractice accusations were a money grab and I felt I could not be objective. I was dismissed after lunch, along with only 2 other people, leaving behind the other potential jurors, including 2 physicians (one of whom was scheduled to take her boards during that timeframe).
 
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In the words of my wife an ADA, no self-respecting lawyer wants a physician on their jury. They think too much.

It is very difficult to get out of showing up to your jury summons. Most jurisdictions specifically write in that physicians are not blanket exempt. But, again, nobody in their right mind wants you on their jury. Just don't be that douche that shows up to your summons in your white coat. Some EM resident actually did that when I got summoned last year...
 
Based on the experiences of my clinical colleagues, your experience will go something like this:

Lawyer: So what is your profession, Mr/Ms dermiw1985?
You: I'm a doctor.
Lawyer: You're excused, Dr dermiw1985



dermie1985 said:
Not sure if anyone can comment on this, but I'm a PGY-1 preliminary intern and I just got summoned for jury duty for early June. First time ever. I'm on a research elective that week so can probably miss clinical duties, but don't want to be selected for a long trial as I'm moving from my intern year program to my categorical residency in another state at the end of the month. Also already had plans to travel to said state the following week to start the moving process while on a research elective (already have a place set-up as my partner lives there). Also, not sure how my program would feel about me potentially missing some end-of-the year time as I won't have an opportunity to make it up before leaving and not sure how this would work.

Just wanted to gauge people's experiences with jury duty during residency/intern year specifically.
One option I've thought of is that the system lets you change your summons date to any week within 6 months of the original date (i.e. I could postpone until as late as early December). Would it be ethical to postpone the date and then submit a request for non-qualification (as I'd no longer be a resident of that city/state at that point?).
Click to expand...
 
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Gastrapathy said:
Most states allow an automatic postponement. Just take the postponement and then move.
Click to expand...
You can almost always get at least one freebie, even on Federal Grand Juries. Use it for this one then be sure to change your address as soon as you move to your next state.
 
Goro said:
Based on the experiences of my clinical colleagues, your experience will go something like this:

Lawyer: So what is your profession , Mr/Ms dermiw1985?
You: I'm a doctor.
Lawyer: You're excused, Mr/Ms dermiw1985
Click to expand...
Yep that's how my went, with the exception of them addressing me as "Dr" after I revealed my profession.

My mother got out of jury duty for a med mal case when she was asked if anyone in her family was in medicine.
 
That was a cut and paste typo on my part...I'll go fix it now.
Winged Scapula said:
Yep that's how my went, with the exception of them addressing me as "Dr" after I revealed my profession.

My mother got out of jury duty for a med mal case when she was asked if anyone in her family was in medicine.
Click to expand...

EDIT: one could try:"Where there's smoke, fire, Your Honor! He look's guilty to me!!!"


You could always say you are racist or something similarly off color and that usually gets you off the jury but might get you beat up on the way out to the parking lot.
 
Goro said:
Based on the experiences of my clinical colleagues, your experience will go something like this:

Lawyer: So what is your profession, Mr/Ms dermiw1985?
You: I'm a doctor.
Lawyer: You're excused, Dr dermiw1985
Click to expand...
I wouldn't count on this. I've seen doctors empaneled and I've myself been put on a jury. Some judges won't let parties strike professionals without cause because they want to ensure more diverse demographics in the jury pool. Lots of defense lawyers pick doctors as jurors because they stereotype them as caring and compassionate. Prosecutors like doctors because they see them as wealthy and more likely to identify with the victim or law enforcement. I'd say these days the odds of doctors being struck based on your profession are actually below average - you are actually coveted for the jury and will need to do some fast talking to avoid it. Or just suck it up and do your civic duty, it's not that bad.
 
Agree 1000% with the bolded!!!


Law2Doc said:
I wouldn't count on this. I've seen doctors empaneled and I've myself been put on a jury. Some judges won't let parties strike professionals without cause because they want to ensure more diverse demographics in the jury pool. Lots of defense lawyers pick doctors as jurors because they stereotype them as caring and compassionate. Prosecutors like doctors because they see them as wealthy and more likely to identify with the victim or law enforcement. I'd say these days the odds of doctors being struck based on your profession are actually below average - you are actually coveted for the jury and will need to do some fast talking to avoid it. Or just suck it up and do your civic duty, it's not that bad.
Click to expand...
 
I've been waiting for the past 14 years to get called, but I never have. And I'm thinking I'd get an automatic strike right now for being a lawyer, but I wonder how those stats go for lawyer-turned-doctor. I live vicariously through friends that get called. I practice mostly in federal court, but sometimes, when I'm having a slow week, I sneak over to the state courthouse just to observe voir dire. It's pitiful.
 
Our program coordinator was able to get us out of everything during residency, but I had to serve my first year as an attending. They struck two basic scientists off the jury with the excuse that "[they] might not be able to restrain themselves from using their knowledge of genetics to explain DNA testing to the other jurors", but I as a physician was left on. They then wasted an entire 4 hours of testimony on DNA evidence that was completely useless - it didn't implicate or exclude the defendant. Their case would have been exactly the same without it. Other than that part it was actually kind of interesting to see the justice system at work.
 
Lioness said:
Our program coordinator was able to get us out of everything during residency, but I had to serve my first year as an attending. They struck two basic scientists off the jury with the excuse that "[they] might not be able to restrain themselves from using their knowledge of genetics to explain DNA testing to the other jurors", but I as a physician was left on. They then wasted an entire 4 hours of testimony on DNA evidence that was completely useless - it didn't implicate or exclude the defendant. Their case would have been exactly the same without it. Other than that part it was actually kind of interesting to see the justice system at work.
Click to expand...

So it's a bad thing if jurors understand how things work. That aligns with what I know about the "justice" system
 
Psai said:
So it's a bad thing if jurors understand how things work. That aligns with what I know about the "justice" system
Click to expand...

I find your avatar very amusing, and get a chuckle out of it every time I see it.
 
I had a day of Jury Duty my 2nd year of residency. They had no exceptions for physicians. Postponed it six months, then went. They didn't pick me. Program even canceled a continuity clinic for me. (... and rescheduled it the following month, but I can't win there)
 
some states there's no way of knowing if you're going to get some itty bitty case that takes like 2 days or the next OJ Simpson trial

doing your civic duty isn't that bad unless you're handed something like that
I feel really bad for some of those folks it was *really* disruptive to their lives
 
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