Any of you ever skipped and been fined or know someone who has?

A good friend is JP and he said that about 28% of folks respond to summons.

I actually skipped on accident. They sent a summons to my old house and for some reason it took the post office forever to get it to my forwarding address. Nothing happened.

And to be honest it just isn't cost effective to even worry about people skipping.

Yep. They got life in prison.

Harris County Dist Clerk has not issued a warrant nor pursued a no show in modern history. With the unreliability of the US Mail the Dist Clerk's office has no way to prove you ever got the summons.
Do what you want but..there is zero repercussion IN HARRIS COUNTY for not showing up.

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Harris County Dist Clerk has not issued a warrant nor pursued a no show in modern history. With the unreliability of the US Mail the Dist Clerk's office has no way to prove you ever got the summons.
Do what you want but..there is zero repercussion IN HARRIS COUNTY for not showing up.

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Was just about to post something to this effect. Until jury duty notices are sent by certified mail (not gonna happen), there's no way to prove receipt of the summons.

About 3 years ago I misplaced a summons...found it about three months after the date to report. I called and rescheduled with zero issue. Probably could have gotten by with just letting it go, but I'm just not wired that way.

This is actually Brazoria county but it's not even the big court in Angleton; it's some JP court in Manvel of all places. I've had like 4 summons in my 10 years of living in Pearland and actually served on a jury once down there. They love picking my name.

I've skipped unintentionally.

It's be hard for them to fine you, since they can't prove you received the summons.

I've forgotten...I mean a buddy of mine has forgotten to attend 3 summons. No fines yet.

Go to jury duty. And if you don't, don't ***** about the legal system, jury verdicts, etc.

I must warn you, failing to respond to jury summons disqualifies you from ever complaining about the criminal justice system.

EDIT: Oops, MAS beat me to it.

See above. I've already served on a jury and been several times for other summons. Thanks for the friendly reminders though.

Un-American slackers.

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I've forgotten...I mean a buddy of mine has forgotten to attend 3 summons. No fines yet.

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Just a warning.......
I was ONLY talking about Harris County.....You had better be less " forgetful" in the smaller counties. I know for a fact that dear ole Brazos County WILL dispatch a gendarme to pay you a visit if you do not show up and they need a pool.

I think Brazoria county will come after you, I've heard that one judge there will even send out officers to get you same day.

How would they know the summons arrived in the mail???? They won't, but please go serve!

I heard if you skip, you are subject to public stoning!

I have never skipped, I feel I need to do what I can. And heck, I even get free meals at Treebeards.

I think I have received 5 summons in my life. And selected for the jury 3 of those 5 times.

I didn't make it to lunch when I've gone.

Ugh I know I need to go but I'm more annoyed this is for some small jp court. I guess that would be a 6 person jury?

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Ugh I know I need to go but I'm more annoyed this is for some small jp court. I guess that would be a 6 person jury?

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most likely. Will probably be a speeding ticket or maybe an eviction. Will be boring and small potatos.

Unless you get the summons by certified mail, they can't prove you ever got it.

Hopefully they don't read texags.

I must be weird because I'd like to serve on a jury.

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I must be weird because I'd like to serve on a jury.

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I like it. Free day off work when they release you at 10 cause they filled their needs.

The one I was on took 3 days. Civil trial. We went in to deliberate and I thought this was an open and shut case. Then we took a vote and it was 7-5 on my side. I just remember thinking how are going to convince these people to change their minds? I knew I wasn't changing mine, so what happens if they feel as strongly as I do? Really eye opening to see the thought process behind some people's way of thinking. I'm glad I did it but don't really care to ever do it again.

I've been trying to get picked forever but when I tell them that I'm a trial attorney (business litigation) someone cuts me. Would be nice to see firsthand what happens in the jury room.

Unless they send the summons through certified mail, you can always claim that you didn't receive it.

I got picked once when I lived up in Dallas. Civil case involving insurance. The defense lawyer picked a pretty damn educated jury. He asked mr one questio during voir dire; "what kind of engineer are you?"

The case involved illegals involved in a car accident. I remember one black guy raising his hand and saying he hates illegals. Was dismissed then and there. That was the ticket out if you didn't want to be there.

I don't know about most juries, but out group of twelve was pretty damn educated. I think 8 or 9 of us had at least a bachelor's degree. The high dollar lawyer for the insurance company (note, they never told us the actual defendant was the insurance company, but we all knew) only picked out the educated jurors who would see right through this scam. The ambulance chaser lawyer wasn't very good in comparison. I think we deliberated for two hours and settled on the amount the defense lawyer recommended; a few thousand dolars.

High dollar insurance defense lawyer.

Now that's funny

Jesus knows

The jp is minutes from my house. And I've always been dismissed or they settled. Either way, free day off of work. I will serve.

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I've been trying to get picked forever but when I tell them that I'm a trial attorney (business litigation) someone cuts me. Would be nice to see firsthand what happens in the jury room.

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I wonder if they would pass something where lawyers didn't have to go. The juries I have been on ALWAYS dismiss the lawyers.

I have been selected for the jury the last 2 times I have gone in for Jury Duty. Took 2 and 3 days. Honestly I was hoping to get selected for the 2nd one after seeing the lengths people were going through to get out of it. Honestly I am not sure why they even showed up. I must live in a bubble because I was the only person in one case that did not have an immediate family member in jail or dead from doing or dealing drugs. The ones that didn't, had someone wrongfully accused by a cop so they didnt trust them.