I recently was selected for jury selection in Houston. I was reading the exemptions and the only one I could find relating to children was the following:

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Not employed outside the home, having active care and custody of a child under the age of ten whose health or safety would be jeopardized by their absence for jury service; or a person who is essential to the care of the aged or infirm persons and who is not employed outside the home.

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I am the mother of a 6 month old. My husband and I both work and she stays with my mom and dad during the day. However, sometimes my husband works late (until 10 PM) and I need to be there with her. I don't want to ask my parents to watch her in the evenings too. If I was selected for the jury, it would be extremely difficult to plan. Could I get an exemption for this. I really would love to do my civic duty, but this would end up being a planning nightmare by going to Houston, etc.

Do you live in Harris County?

If you don't, you're disqualified from being a juror there. You can submit this disqualification online (the website is on your summons). Note that this will also cancel/end your voter registration in Harris County, if that matters to you.

No, I don't live in Harris County. This is district jury duty, so I don't believe that applies.

pray they settle or that you get lucky and get hit by a bus. Houston Federal Court jury duty is terrible.

I'm pretty sure the residential requirement applies.

From the Harris County District Clerk website

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QUALIFICATIONS FOR JURY SERVICE (Gov’t Code, Section 62.102)
A person is disqualified to serve as a petit juror unless the person:
Is at least 18 years of age;
Is a citizen of this state and of the county in which the person is to serve as a juror;
Is qualified under the constitution and laws to vote in the county in which the person is to serve as a juror;
Is of sound mind and good moral character;
Is able to read and write;
Has not served as a petit juror for six days during the preceding three months in the county court or during the preceding six months in the district court;
Has not been convicted of misdemeanor theft or a felony; and
Is not under indictment or other legal accusation for misdemeanor theft or a felony.
Note: Persons claiming a disqualification based on the lack of citizenship or the lack of residence in the county may no longer be eligible to vote in the county. Claims of this kind will be reported to the Voter Registrar.

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From the Federal Jury Duty website

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Juror Qualifications, Exemptions and Excuses

To be legally qualified for jury service, an individual must:

be a United States citizen;
be at least 18 years of age;
reside primarily in the judicial district for one year;
be adequately proficient in English;
have no disqualifying mental or physical condition;
not currently be subject to felony charges; and
never have been convicted of a felony (unless civil rights have been legally restored)

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If you go to http://www.uscourts.gov/courtlinks/index.html and search zip code 77845 it appears we are in the judicial district for the federal district court.

This is why we need a federal court in the Brazos Valley. I know a man several years ago was selected for a Federal Grand Jury in Houston. He lives here in BCS. He is/was an independent contractor (ie worked for himself). The Judge refused to disqualify him even though he would not be making and money...except what you get payed for jury duty. They will give you a hotel room and pay for some of your meals.

My wife was also chosen for jury duty. All of the other jurors were from Harris County and could not believe she was picked. The judge also told her he same thing but said nothing could be done. Luckily the case was settle on the first day.

Hopefully if you have a 6 month old child you will not be picked but in these days a womens rights, your husband will be expected to take up the parenting.

If it is a state case, you are exempt. What it is probably for (because I have done it) is federal grand jury duty or something along those lines in which case it does not matter if you live in Harris County or not. Call the number on the paperwork you received and talk to them. One of the ladies was let go early because of a change in her husband's schedule he could no longer pick up their child and care for him after school.

If they won't excuse you because you work outside the home, I'd take the 6 month old with me to the jury selection on the first day. Tell them that you have childcare until 6 pm at night but with the commute, you would not be able to get your child picked up on time. The baby will have to stay with you. You won't be selected.

You might think I am kidding, but I'm not. It might be a miserable day for you and your child but it will beat the heck out of having to serve on a jury for a week or longer.

Kids aren't illegal. You can take them with you. Now, if you leave your kid alone, that can be illegal depending on the age of the child, so I would not go that route.

The more I read, the less I think I'll be able to get out of this. To make matters worse, it is on December 21. I just really hope that the jury selection doesn't drag on if I do have to go.

If you could be replaced with a viable adult, would they "let you go"? My mother LOVES the inside of a courtroom. It would make her day!

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Kids aren't illegal. You can take them with you

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I promise you, the last person in the world that you want mad at you is a Federal Judge. They are appointed for life and they know it.
If you try to make a point with a Federal Judge you will lose not matter if you are an attorney, plaintiff, defendant, baliff or someone just walking down 515 Rusk in Houston. (Federal Building)

Try to solve your situation via phone. A contempt charge is not fun.

Take the exemption.
When looking at the exemptions from the state, the following exemption states:

Have legal custody of a child younger than 10 years of age and the person’s service on the jury requires leaving the child without adequate supervision;

It doesn't mention working outside of the home. You DO have legal custody of said child and your day care begins and ends at "whatever" o'clock, which would leave the child without adequate supervision.(as the above poster mentioned.) Also, if there was an emergency and your caregiver did have to take your child to the doctor or hospital, you and your spouse are the only ones who can legally make decisions regarding treatment/care. What if your spouse was simultaneously out of town on business?

Let me clarify my suggestion. First, see if you can get excused. If not, see if you can get postponed until the child is older. If not, you have to show up for jury duty or you can be held in contempt of court for not showing up. If you can't find reliable childcare on the day of jury duty you have to choose between not showing up at all and showing up with your child.

kasberg, I got the information in the mail. I had recently had back surgery and included a doctor's note in my papework. I ended up getting summoned a couple months later. I checked each day and was never actually called. You have about a 6-day window where you can be called...few actually are. Don't panic just yet, you may not ever have to go down there.