This is topic Jury Duty - anybody get excused? in forum General Support at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by Marz (Member # 3446) on :
 
I'm such a nervous wreck because I got a notice in the mail for jury duty.

I think that having to be there at 8:00 am and sitting all day will do me in.

I called llmds office today and I'd have to do a phone consult which I don't understand. Also called PCPs office and they haven't returned my call yet.

Anybody get excused and if so what did you give as reason?

The mail-back form asks if you have a physical or mental disability and if so, explain.

It says medical statement might be required. Do they ever just go by your word and not ask for an MDs statement?
 
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 
You will need a letter from your dr. I was excused once because I have Interstitial Cystitis. PRetty hard to sit in a courtroom for hours on end.

I showed the judge my letter .. and I was off for home. The sad thing is that I had always wanted to serve and now I can't.

You shouldn't have any trouble getting excused.
 
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
 
my primary wrote a note saying arthritis, cognitive problems, frequent urination and some other stuff. i didin't even have to take it to judge. just sent it in.

do they really want ppl on a jury with short term memory loss?

it depends on how your sx are...but a primary should be able to do it for you i think.
 
Posted by Marz (Member # 3446) on :
 
I hope my primary will come through for me. The office didn't call back today. I don't think he believes in chronic lyme. He's been sort of non-commital about it. He's a new doctor and doesn't know much about me.

I'm upset with llmd because coincidentally on Friday I'd called because I was not doing well on adrenal hormone I'd been taking for a few days.

I called about this and was told to call back today. In am. when I called today I said I wasn't going to do the hormone cuz felt better off it and didn't think I could do it.

I also mentioned the jury duty.

In pm the office person called back saying I had to arrange a phone consult. I said "even for the jury issue" and she said yes.

I have to turn in the notice within 6 days now.

I could be doing ok by august when the court date is. But right now I have miserable headache, fatigue and need to sleep at least 12 hours.

I can't think straight with this headache.Can't concentrate to read and can't imagine even spending the first day there from 8:30 to 4:30 just waiting to see if I'm called!

Every little thing is a huge stress right now which doesn't help my adrenals at all.

Wish I had something more clear cut for my PCP to use.

I saw him in March after my fatigue got worse chopping ice and he sent me for tests for heart after fainting. But all tested ok.
 
Posted by glm1111 (Member # 16556) on :
 
When I was called, I just sent them a note saying I have chronic Lyme disease with severe neuro problems. I didn't send a doctors note either.

They sent me a reply about a week or two later saying I was excused.

The last thing they want is someone sitting on a jury that can't think. I was excused twice in the last several years.

Try and relax and not get so stressed. It will be okay. I would just send a note explaining what's going on.

If they ask you for a doctors note(which I doubt) you can send it then. Hope this helps,

Gael
 
Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :
 
i was excused also; i did give them a note from my dr.

i pee 3-5 TIMES PER HOUR !!

had to have them adjust shades different way so i would NOT get any sun coming thru ... light is painful for my eyes.

I HAD MY BIG WATER JUG & TOLD IT HAD TO SIT ON FLOOR; TOLD HER NO; HURTS TOO MUCH TO BEND DOWN.

this situation, i was eventually eliminated;

future ones drs. note took care of it.

mention cognitive, SHORT TERM MEMORY, bathroom trips, migraines, PAIN in your body, have to get up and stretch every 10-20 minutes, etc.


whatever your normal symptoms are .... tell them!
******************************************************

keep a copy of it also for your files! [Smile]
 
Posted by merrygirl (Member # 12041) on :
 
all i did was fax them my disability letter- excused
 
Posted by Melodymaker (Member # 16434) on :
 
All I did was go online and fill out the form to be excused. Told them I was under treatment for Lyme disease. They simply sent me confirmation of being excused from duty.

See if there is a website on the jury summons, and instructions to file to be excused.

Good Luck and don't stress.
 
Posted by keltyl (Member # 14050) on :
 
I have been called 4 times in the last 7 mos. Three times for my county, just called and explained, she was very nice and asked me questions about Lyme. No note needed. Now she has me off for a year.

The other was another county, could email your excuse. Got anexcusal back, no note needed.
 
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
 
my doctor wrote a note saying i was basically unable to function at a level that required exercising mental ability.

sounded good and worked...have never been called again.

but i'd get another letter. i can't sit for 15 minutes without doing to the bathroom.
 
Posted by Marz (Member # 3446) on :
 
Thank you all for your encouragement and experiences in dealing with this.

You've really helped put my mind at ease and helped me formulate how I should word my excuse.

I'll wait to see if they ask for an MDs note.

Right now, I really need to avoid stress.
 
Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :
 
You can also call the juror's office and talk to somebody.

There are some courts that are very wary of excusing people for disabilities because of fear of being accused of discrimination. Unfortunately, there was a time when people who were blind or deaf couldn't be jurors and had to sue under the ADA for courts to provide them with accommodations so they could serve.

As a result of those types of cases, some judges and courts are overly sensitive and don't want to deny somebody who has the right to serve.

Last time I was on a jury (in DC, you get called every 2 years like clock work), I told the Judge I had a pain condition and can't concentrate when I have pain. He asked if I would feel comfortable raising my hand and telling him if I needed a break. I said yes, and I served. If I said no, I'm sure he would have excused me.
 
Posted by bamboo forest (Member # 21066) on :
 
My LLMD got me out of jury duty for good with a letter.
 
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
 
I sent them a note on the form they mailed me saying I was on SSDI for Lyme and then listed many of my symptoms. My severe cognitive problems, came in handy there! That was all I had to do! Good luck!
 
Posted by wendihk (Member # 20554) on :
 
I called the number on the notice and told them that I had Lyme disease with Gastric problems and had days that were spent entirely in the bathroom.

The woman wished me a speedy recovery and told me that she would take my name out of the system!
 
Posted by sometimesdilly (Member # 9982) on :
 
call the number on summons- first step.

i responded on my own to the 1st post-Lyme jury summons i received and was excused, then sent in a doc's letter for the 2nd summons, then also asking to be excused for the forseeable future.

the forever clause was rejected on paper, but i haven't been summoned again.

like you, toots, i have always wanted to serve, but feel it would be entirely unethical to do so if i can't remember names or faces or dates or what happened 5 minutes ago.

dill
 
Posted by Marz (Member # 3446) on :
 
My excuse came in the mail today--hooray!

However, yes, it did say I would be called again in the future.

Hopefully by then I will be doing ok. I too, think it would be interesting to serve and is my duty.

In the meantime, I'm a little concerned how soon one's name comes up again. Wondering if it's all by chance again, or will it be on the list automatically for the next summons.

I always have to worry about something!

I did get a call from my PCPs office today and was told they'd be willing to write an excuse for me if needed.
 
Posted by MADDOG (Member # 18) on :
 
Yep,been excused twice.

Once for immune system being weak,so i couldent be in a room with potentially sick people.

And once for interstitial cystitis.

MADDOG
 
Posted by DakotasMom01 (Member # 14141) on :
 
Thanks for the great info!
I got my notice to serve yesterday.
 
Posted by abp2626 (Member # 21485) on :
 
I haven't had a chance to read other postings yet but here are my two cents:

First, I am a district attorney, so I do jury trials on a regular basis.

I've also been on a jury in the last year, so I know what its like to go through jury selection.

Most judges are very kind and will understand, but some will not.

If you tell a judge that you need to get out of jury duty b/c you have lymes disease, most would think that you are absurd (unless they've had lymes, then THEY KNOW!)

Instead, I would explain to the judge what symptoms you suffer from.

No judge wants the verdict overturned b/c a juror couldn't sit and listen and focus on evidence b/c they were in pain and sick, ect.

Any note from a doctor would be very helpful.

If you have the chance, I would contact the Clerk of Courts with your issue BEFORE you are summons to court the day of the trial -- that way, some nice Clerk looks at the issue rather than a stressed out Judge (no offense to Judges).

Any other questions, just ask. Gotta run to the Dr.
 
Posted by farraday (Member # 21494) on :
 
My husband took me in to the jury room. I was walking with my cane. He showed them my handicap placard, told them I was disabled and unable to sit up for long periods of time. They took my name off the rolls and said I would not be called again. And I have not been.

I think contacting the clerk before you are summoned is a good idea. It will save you the trip. All trips are hard on me and I wished I had done that. Also mention the symptoms, not Lyme (the L word). People can relate to them more easily.
 


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