K, here's the story.
Last week, I got called for jury duty. I am currently a SAHM with three teenagers.
(I've been called twice before. First time I was exempt being a SAHM with younger than preschool children in the house and no child care. Second time while working part time in school with my kids. That case was settled, I only took one day off, and yes, I accepted the $40 as I was NOT paid by my job for that day.)
So THIS time, I was actually looking forward to it at little (yes, that's how small my life has become!)
I was supposed to be there at 10am. I went to the county court and the case was my town court, sigh. Either way both courts are minutes from my house. I signed in at 10:15, barely made it through one paragraph of the book I brought (Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain, if you want to know), when the lawyers came out of the adjoining room to announce the case had been settled.
So that's that, I went home. Two days later I received a letter from the court requesting my juror questionairre (which I didn't turn in) for the sake of finishing up payroll for the day.
I called the number on the letter and said I would like to forfeit my $40 'earnings' for the day (10 minutes of my time, really).
I suppose if the case HAD gone to court, and I had to make arrangements for my kids, rides to and from school, various other activities....I'd've certainly accepted it.
My guy is very annoyed I refused the stupid $40. Thing is, I feel like it's hypocritical to accept money from the government for nothing while complaining about what the government spends money on, you know? I mean there's not money all over the place for us, but the mortgage is paid and everyone has what they need.
In MY mind, I did the 'right' thing. In HIS mind, I threw 40 bucks in the garbage.
So, what would YOU do (or what HAVE you done in a similar situation)?
Have a great day ladies!
**ADDED: Thank you all so much for your responses! The Man will be tickled to know most of you side more with him than with me! Oh No, now he'll GLOAT! Tehehehe!
!
:)
Damn, MR, that is GENIOUS, wish I'd thought of that!
Rlctnt Txn, he DID take the money last time he was called and the case was settled, but he also had to rearrange his work schedule to be there and I didn't, so that's different, you know?
Yikes, I'm sorry, Laurie, I thought I was clear on that point. I did NOT have to rearrange my schedule in anyway for the ten minutes I was there (like a maybe 20 minutes counting the drive time), and that in the past I HAVE accepted the payment for a day's loss of work. We are individuals with our own definition of 'character' I guess.
I think you did the right thing. I have to admit I've never looked at it the way you did, but I think it's a great point of view.
I really don't think you should make this into a character issue because it's not. When you get summoned to jury duty, unless you get an exemption, you have to show up and stay there, whether it's all day or just for 10 minutes. You have to keep that day open and be available to the court. You cannot leave whenever you want and you never know if they are going to need you for 1 day or 10 days
There are a lot of people out there that need that $40 per day or they can't perform this civic service and we need those people. We need that broad cross section of people, from all walks of life, to be jury members to help insure that we have a good chance at a fair trials. The $40 per day payment helps (somewhat) to insure that we don't have jury panels made up of mostly retirees and possibly some SAHMs and unemployed sprinkled in there also.
Even though you don't need that $40, you are being paid for services rendered. The services were not just the 10 minutes you were actually in the court house, it was for keeping your day open for the court, and it was also driving to and from the court house as well actually be there . To me, it's fair exchange. You provided the time to show up and the Court paid you for that time.
Now, if you feel that you don't need $40, that's one thing, but to suggest that a person does not have good character when they had to free up their schedule so that they could comply with the jury summon and they do so, and then they accept the $40 even though they were only needed for 10 minutes, is wrong. Is actually not a charcter issue; it's being paid for services rendered.
That's just my point of view.
I think it's good of you that you didn't take it. I probably would have accepted it and felt a tiny bit guilty. But then I would have rationalized it by thinking that the $40 is their apology for me not getting to exercise my civic duty on a jury, and off to the hair stylist I go!
A little different angle because I work full time, but if/when I have jury duty I have to turn over the pay to my employer which is fine by me because I still get paid for the day by my employer.
I would have taken the $40. Not because I feel so entitled to it like the government 'owes' me something but because I took time out of my day to fulfill my civic duty as a jury member and this is the compensation the government provides. Now, if I were in your shoes (and I can understand how you feel) and not feeling so right about the money, you could have taken it and perhaps donated it to a womens' shelter or charitable organization of your choice?
Either way, I don't think it is up to your guy to decide how your compensation is handled since this was a one-time deal.
I would have taken my own money back. I pay too much in taxes anyway;)
LIfe is jsut too hsort to get caught up in what you should have done two weeks ago for a grand total of $40. Yes, technically you were entitled to the $40. Yes I would have submitted the juror questionnaire - but there's a good chance i would have lost track of it since there are a lot of things on my plate at this moment in time.
Life Rule #1 - Don't sweat the small stuff
Rule # 2 - most if it is small stuff.
I think I would have accepted it, but I have never been in that situation.
Also tell your hubby that what's done is done. MAybe you'll be called again and then you can accept the money and take him out to eat.
Good for you! I think you definitely did the right thing. Tell guy to get over it, when he gets jury duty, he can take the money.
You should have accepted it :)
I would have sent the questionairre. You did your part. I have been called so many times over the years and know it does take a bit of effort and you took the responsibility seriously and were willing to be there as long as needed.
If you want to then donate the money to your favorite charity or church you could do that. Or give the money to your teens for 8 gallons of gas.. you deserve it.
But whatever, I would do does not matter, it is your decision, no regrets.
The guy was annoyed because your refusal probably created more work for him. He now has to figure out what to do, as this probably happens very rarely. I would have kept the money. You had to block off your time, which IS definitely worth something, job or no job. Either way, you did what you felt was right, and that's very respectable, regardless if some government worker has to take a few extra steps to figure out how to balance the books.
I would have taken the money too. The LAWYERS should have figured out a way to settle the case before all the potential jurors had to make their way over there. That's their fault.
You would have been paid $40 for 6-8 hours of service or $40 for your 20 minutes of service. Either way, you should get paid. I am a translator. If I show up for my apptmnt and the person doesn't show I still get paid for my time, whether or not I work.
L.
I think you did what YOU felt was right for YOU. Period. Everyone feels differently about this issue, and if you had the day open, and would have had it open no matter what, and felt that your going in to the courthouse and reading for the 10 minutes until they released you for the day was no skin off of your nose, well than good for you for not taking the cash. If your actions would cause the county to rethink their ability or willingness to compensate jurors for their time in the event that a prespective juror gets sent home after only a short time, for example if they are only there for an hour or less they cannot get paid for their time, then I would say that what you did was damaging to the rest of us. Your actions were NOT. Some people believe that they do not need to be paid at all to perform their "civic" duty, even if it results in a lengthy court case, because this is the way our legal system works. I for one am glad that there is some kind of compensation when it is needed, in the cases when a person misses work, etc.
Sorry but you still worked for the money and I would have taken it. Here is an example I work a party and I hired to be a waitress I drive to the home I will be serving and the host tells me to put on an apron and pass out appetizers on a tray then she decided 20 minutes later to cancel the party but she contracted me for 4 hours. I still get paid for 4 hours.
The $40.00 is money you also put into the system I personally would not have given it back unless I was in a financial state that I had no needs. You could of even taken the $40.00 and donated it to a charitable cause if you did not want it.
My husband would have killed me if I gave it back but if you feel good about giving it back that is that.
Late response here, but I think you were valiant to refuse the payment. Another option would be to take it and donate it to a worthy cause.
The wheels of justice sure turn slowly don't they?
