Jury Duty Anxiety

[PenguinQueen44]

Hello,

I was summoned for jury duty a couple months back and I immediately had anxiety.

I was having trouble sleeping because I cannot go through the financial hit of not going to work. Also the amount of work that I will need to do when I get back would be awful. Then I am stressed just being responsible for someone's freedom. I need to talk my way out of jury duty because my medical doctor would not answer me about a letter saying that I cannot handle this.

The day came that my jury duty was about to be done and then I got postponed for 2 weeks. I screamed in frustration because the stress would have been done and then the anxiety was just getting worse.

I have tried to distract myself and I am not okay right now.

Tomorrow is supposed to be the day I am supposed to go in for jury duty.

I am praying that my group just gets dismissed, but I am just having the worst moment of anxiety and I am having trouble focusing on work.

I just cannot breath.....Being able to call in to find out jury instructions is at 3:30PM and I am having the worst stress/anxiety about calling to find out.

I just need to get through this in one piece and not have to scream in frustration.

I JUST CANNOT DO THIS!!!! Pray that I am not going to suffer through jury duty!!!

[hypercat54]

I did jury service back in the 80's at the Old Baily in London UK. We got paid for doing the service too which was more than my job. I had a whale of a time too.

Tell you how we picked our jury foreman. All 12 of us were in the courtroom and I was in the 2nd row. The judge asked who our foreman was but we hadn't picked one. The whisper went round the back row - him in the middle presumably because he looked respectable and was suited and booted.

So me and others poked the poor guy hard in the back. He jumped but to his credit immediately got up and said he was.

[CL3V3R-G1RL]

When I used to get jury summons my psychiatrist would write me a letter to send back with the summons as to why I could not attend.

Also I take care of my mom so that was another reason.

I hope it goes quick for you. Just pack anything you feel will help keep you calm. Book, snacks, video games on your phone, etc. remember you can always jump on here in between when you're group hasn't been called.

Wishing you the best of luck 🫂❤️

[Agora1]

Hi PenguinQueen44. You may be able to be excused with a doctor's note.

Anxiety disorder is considered a viable diagnosis. Good Luck xx

[BlueAgave]

Look online for your state jury duty and see what you can do to be excused or postponed. My state doesn't want you to show up if your ill, so there's a place online you can notify them and they'll postpone you for another time. That may give you enough time to get that physician letter. Will be thinking about you ❤️

[-Charlie]

When I used to get jury summons in the mail, I’d write in the reason I cannot attend i.e. can’t take off work, financial constraints, kids, and anxiety. I’’d explain that there’s a high probability I’ll have a panic attack from sitting so long and could freak out and disrupt the proceedings. I’d list the medications I was taking and leave my psychiatrist phone number to call if needed. It worked for years, as they never replied. Sadly I don’t even respond to summons anymore. I know it’s a civic duty and I plan to make up for lost time and try to do it later in life when time allows. Best of luck to you with this, hopefully you won’t have to go at this point and time. Deep breaths x

[Agora1]

PenguinQueen, I remember many years ago when I had received

my first jury notice. I was excited about going, which was short lived.

Before we got started they asked jury members if anyone knew the

lawyers representing this case. I raised my hand and said "yes your honor"

I know that attorney, he was my landlord who sued me for breaking my lease

because of bug infestation. I was dismissed within moments. Just to say xx

[hypercat54 in reply to Agora1]

I found it to be really interesting though Agora. I heard 2 cases. The 2nd one concerned dodgy drugs and it was in my neck of the woods. I knew the areas involved etc. This guy got some dodgy drugs from someone so he got his mates and they all went round to the tower block where he lived.

The guy was so scared when they tried to break his door in he jumped out of the bathroom window - it was high up.......

[Agora1 in reply to hypercat54]

Are you a judge hypercat? xx

[hypercat54 in reply to Agora1]

Ha ha no But I did get the judge to give us a quick break when I had a coughing fit in court x

[Agora1 in reply to hypercat54]

That would do it lol xx

[Teaching]

I pray you get through it successfully 🙏

[punkster]

Hang in there. You can get through this!

[catsrock]

Jury duty sucks. If you can't get a medical excuse, can it be for financial reasons? I hope you get excused!

[Artistfriend]

I was able to get my therapist to write a note once and got out of it, the last time i had moved and didnt get the letter in time so i never showed up, ive never been contacted about it.

If its that much of a struggle i wouldnt go but you can contact them about it to try and reschedule another time.

Ive actually served on a jury twice and the process can be interesting to be a part of though