ULPT Request: Get disqualified for Jury Duty (questionnaire).
Posted by ActuatorOutside5256@reddit | UnethicalLifeProTips | View on Reddit | 109 comments
I received a jury duty qualification questionnaire in the mail a couple of days ago, and it asks me to complete some questions online to determine whether I’m eligible to serve. I’m a little unsure about how to approach this since I don’t want to misrepresent anything in fear of being picked up and tried, but at the same time I’d prefer not to be selected if possible.
Could you share what the most appropriate and nuanced way might be to answer so that I’m more likely to be excused without saying something untrue, like not knowing English? I’d like to make sure I handle this carefully and with plausible deniability.
bobo888@reddit
"The trick to advoiding jury duty is to say you're prejudiced against all races."
random-guy-here@reddit
If called in they will ask questions like, "Would you believe a sheriffs version of the story over the accused?"
Your answer should be like, "Of course, the accused wouldn't even be here unless he did it."
You will get kicked off really quick.
Griffinej5@reddit
The other direction works too. If you say you’re less likely to believe an officer, that should get you rejected. Last time I was summoned, they asked about books you’ve read recently. I happened to actually be reading something along the lines of a social justice topic. I think disliking cops and the book worked. Implying knowledge of jury nullification is also a good way.
omegasome@reddit
At which point you get involved in a civil case with no cops in sight
Char_siu_for_you@reddit
I once told the prosecutor that I was on probation and he put me there. Worked like a charm.
random-guy-here@reddit
The best answers are always buried in the comments.
Excuse me, I'm off to commit some petty crime...
aDuckedUpGoose@reddit
When I got called, and others were asked essentially this question, five answered "I always trust the police." When asked if they would be willing to listen to testimony of homeless individuals those same five said something along the lines of "they may have been on drugs, I can't trust their testimony."
There were no police witnesses to the alleged crime. The only witnesses were those homeless dudes. The defense was planning to call those homeless dudes as witnesses and the prosecution, those cops.
All five were selected for jury duty. I don't know how the trial went but I'm pretty sure he got convicted.
ActuatorOutside5256@reddit (OP)
That makes sense. So basically what you’re saying is just answer the qualification questionnaire honestly, and then WHEN i get called in, I answer like you said?
vonhoother@reddit
When dealing with the justice system, always tell the truth. Maybe not the whole truth, but no lies. A lie is practically guaranteed to backfire on you.
random-guy-here@reddit
I don't know what questions are on the qualification form. But if you are showing any type of bias no lawyer wants you on the jury.
Don't purger yourself on a simple question like Name, Address, SS# etc. Or you may get a free ride to the courthouse by the county Sheriff.
DougieSloBone@reddit
Or end up in Purgertory
ActuatorOutside5256@reddit (OP)
borgir 🍔
Classic_Cauliflower4@reddit
Perjure. Perjury is serious business.
SapphirePath@reddit
Yes.
crash866@reddit
In my area I have filled out many questionnaires over the years and have never been called yet. Same with many people I know.
ztfrey@reddit
I've ignored every jurry duty letter ive ever gotten and nothing ever came of it.
razzemmatazz@reddit
Just tell them you moved out of the county or state.
I've been called to jury duty 3 times, and every single time I've literally been in the process of moving to another county or state. Instantly released from the jury pool over the phone.
writerlady6@reddit
A family member of mine said they were charged with DUI as a young person, and were promptly released from the jury pool after that.
I wouldn't fib about it bc it would be easy enough to check, but don't be shy about admitting it on the questionnaire or in the interview.
Nice_Calligrapher427@reddit
Have a copy of a John Grisham book in your lap. Preferably “runaway jury”. Or… bring up jury nullification.
eamonnprunty101@reddit
just mention jury nullification and you will immediately be struck from the jury roll
IAlwaysSayBoo-urns@reddit
This is the real answer here. They have arrested people for handing out flyers talking about this because they don't want people knowing about it.
inn0cent-bystander@reddit
I hope those people won big in the lawsuit...
FakeSincerity@reddit
I'd insist on a jury trial.
inn0cent-bystander@reddit
make it as public and documented as possible
IAMACat_askmenothing@reddit
Just tell the truth, most likely they won’t pick you
HardenedFlamer@reddit
Your job does not offer salary replacement for the days on the jury, so not being paid(your normal full day's pay) is a financial hardship you cannot handle. Worked for me
eatingganesha@reddit
are you in school? have kids you cannot make other arrangements for (esp if a single parent)? are you disabled in any way?
if not, you’ll have to show up for jury selection. At that point, just exhibit loads of biases. But be warned that the lawyers may well have looked up your social media and you risk being fined/jailed for contempt of court.
yasdnil1@reddit
I'm a SAHM and that always gets me out of jury duty. (Primary caregiver for a minor etc.) They just took my word for it, nobody like stopped by the house to see if I actually have a kid.
Atworkwasalreadytake@reddit
Didn’t work for me as SAHD last time.
Shot_Obligation7160@reddit
Did you tell them you were breastfeeding?
Atworkwasalreadytake@reddit
I did, but my kids were 6 and 8 at the time, so it really shined some light in areas I should have kept dark.
schaudhery@reddit
My wife said she’s breastfeeding and they said let her off the hooks
NunsNunchuck@reddit
The client is an employee of a vendor or competitor
Senzualdip@reddit
Just ignore it. Jury summons and questionnaires aren’t sent by certified mail. There is no way for them to verify you received it. If anything comes, just feign ignorance and say you never received a letter. They’ll drop it instantly.
SackBadger2024@reddit
I always start with, I have Chron's and I often have rapid acceleration of particulate matter from my colon to my underwear, resulting in embarrassing personal hygiene needs. Never been called, never.
GirlStiletto@reddit
"Well, ACAB, so I know that anything the cops or DA says is just a fabrication. They want to get a conviction at any cost, regardless of the innocense of the suspect."
Munch_munch_munch@reddit
You could look up scheduled cases on the docket for the date you're supposed to go in, then you can say that you're familiar with the case and have formed an opinion about the defendent's guilt.
chatterpoxx@reddit
"Financial hardship"
Not even unethical.
zbeezle@reddit
Think about the questions. If they can prove that you're lying about them, then answer honestly, but if it's a vague, unprovable question, pick the answer you think they dont want.
Every place does jury selection a little differently, but when I went, the process was this.
If you're not deemed inelligible from the questionnaire, then they ask you to come in more or less on a lottery. Everyone in the pool has a number, and you call in every night, and they say, "Tomorrow, numbers X through Y report to the courthouse at 8 am" or whatever. When i got there, we watched a short video explaining the rules (no looking up stuff about the trial, no recording anything, not technically supposed to be on your phone in the courtroom but nobody really cared unless you were being disruptive).
When we were pulled into the courtroom for the actual selection process, the judge asked the group a series of questions submitted by the defense lawyers and prosecutors. Most of it was stuff like "have you heard about this case before," "do you know [individual/s involved]," "Is anyone in your immediate family law enforcement?"
If the answer was yes, we stood up, and for those who stood, the judge asked us for our juror number and asked us to expound on our answer. We could come up to the bench if we weren't comfortable stating it to the entire court, and he and the lawyers would take our statements personally.
Towards the end, he asked a question that was basically a "get out of jury duty free" card.
"Do you have any problem with assuming that testimony given is true based on the occupation of the individual giving it, for example, if they are law enforcement?"
Basically, do you trust cops? If you answer "no i don't trust cops," then there is zero chance in Hell that the prosecution won't dismiss you as a juror, because they'll assume you're going to vote not guilty no matter what. And there's no way to verify that you're telling the truth, so it was basically asking, "Do you want to be here?"
Now, I actually thought this case was cool and also i get paid by my job if im on jury duty, so i didn't say anything, but neither did anyone else, which i thought was odd.
Once they picked the jury from the remaining candidates (I didn't get picked, boo), the rest of us were dismissed, and on our way out, a guy said to me that he was so glad he didnt get picked. And i thought to myself "well why the fuck didn't you say something???"
Tldr; you might have to go into selection, but there will likely be at least one question you can answer to make sure you arent actually picked for the jury. It's probably something about trusting cops.
Deep-Hovercraft6716@reddit
Without regard to the content of your answers, I would suggest that you make them as verbose as possible. Add as much information and detail as the form will allow. If you can just put in a lot of text up to the character limit for each question that may be seen as a red flag by some of the people picking jurors.
_robmillion_@reddit
One time in jury duty, I was sitting there, trying to figure out how to get out of it. Thinking "What will I say if they ask me something? I need something that is guaranteed to get me out of this!" Deep in my thoughts, I suddenly snapped out of it and realized the room was quiet and everyone was looking at me. The judge said "what's your answer to the question?" Without missing a beat I said "I'm sorry can you repeat the question? I wasn't listening."
I was excused almost immediately.
Abject-Yellow3793@reddit
Make it known that you think all cops liars and criminals, the prosecutor will bounce you. Work in an ACAB somewhere
KingKookus@reddit
I told them flat out don’t trust police. You can look at my YouTube history as support. A lot of “cop tries to violate rights” videos in there.
aDuckedUpGoose@reddit
This is the easiest way. Someone when I got summoned simply said "I have no faith in the justice system and am not willing to condemn someone with a guilty verdict."
FelicitousLynx@reddit
What may also work is saying you LOOOOOVEEEEE the police. You think they are never ever ever in a million years wrong. I got called for jury duty once and my now-ex was a deputy. I said that I trusted him and believed he'd never do anything wrong on the job. I was excused pretty fast by the defense. That may be situational though, so it's probably safer to go the ACAB route.
Abject-Yellow3793@reddit
Absolutely. A strong bias one way or the other is going to get you excused
somethingwyqued@reddit
This gets me rejected every time 🤣
silverraider32@reddit
You should actually try it, I served and was pissed off at first but I got paid days off from work. We usually got let go early each day and we were fed. It was a cool experience and I wouldn’t mind doing it again.
baldieforprez@reddit
On your questionable just but DTS for all the questions. It works most of the time
ACynicalOptomist@reddit
I always just put down that I have anxiety.
markwusinich_@reddit
Coward. Stfu and serve your country.
Acceptable-Net-891@reddit
My therapist sent a note. My anxiety is through the roof and I would not be a good juror.
Alarming-Bop6628@reddit
Yeah I was gonna say, I would just get a note from one of my doctors.
That being said, I didn't respond to a jury summons 4 years ago and nobody has said or done anything to me yet so I don't think you even need to do anything. Just don't go ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
LatterAppointment383@reddit
Just fill it out in crayon. They'll never call you .
magnoliamarauder@reddit
Say your close relatives are district attorneys and/or cops.
This is true for me and has gotten me struck every single time.
flowersandfists@reddit
I’ve been called for jury duty four or five times. I always answer honestly. I once was asked if my conscience differed from the law, would I uphold the law? I said absolutely not. I was still selected.
arclight415@reddit
The real ULPT is to show up, get on a jury and then vote your conscience. You get an opportunity to shape public policy that is far more powerful than just turning up to vote. You can stay home and get stoned another day.
panmetronariston@reddit
If you get called into voir dire and they ask if anyone has ever anything, raise you hand and give a long, thoughtful, nuanced explanation. You won’t get chosen.
draathkar@reddit
Never understood why people try so hard to get out of jury duty. I find it pretty fascinating.
bpthompson999@reddit
Ask if jury nullification is an option.
Schickie@reddit
I said something truthful which was; I didn’t have evidence to trust police to be honest brokers or the truth if I t’s not in their best interests. There’s no real reproductions if they if they lie and you can’t trust any “ chain of evidence” when relying on the situational memory of someone who is predetermined to find someone unfamiliar suspicious.
Or words to that degree.
Specialist_Ad4414@reddit
Don’t shower wear a heavy metal T-shirt ripped jeans and just have a really bad attitude
rainmouse@reddit
Show up in a tshirt with 'Guilty' written on the front in a massive font.
Jmonroe_tenn@reddit
I’m scared of the police. I have been all my life. I have a panic attach if pulled over. It’s not something I can control.
TexasBurgandy@reddit
If your questionnaire asks about your favorite shows you are now a NCIS, SVU, all the true crime show junkie. You know alllll there is to know about the law and forensic science.
thirdtryacharm@reddit
This is what I did: I said how excited I was to see it since I spent so much time watching all those shows on TV and now I’m where they make the show. Where do they keep the camera? After about half a page stream of consciousness, I stopped writing. I was not selected to move forward.
CommunityGlittering2@reddit
Dateline, 20/20, and 48 hrs are good ones too, I would think.
Zestyclose-Ad-7576@reddit
One lady got out of jury duty by saying “he must be guilty because he was arrested.” Judge asked about the American idea of “innocent until proven guilty”. She said the “she doesn’t see it that way”. Judge asked a few more questions, shook his head and dismissed her.
SusanBHa@reddit
I was excused by having my doctor write a note stating that I was at high risk for Covid.
ATLien_3000@reddit
Hate everyone not like you.
Live in a county that voted Trump? Mention all that volunteer work you did for Biden.
Live in a Biden county? Go full on MAGA.
Jazzydiva615@reddit
This won't work and it's not unethical
MidnightNo1766@reddit
It likely would work and yes, lying in any way to get out of jury duty is absolutely unethical.
InfluenceSilly8776@reddit
I know an attorney who said literally just answer honestly and tell them how you really feel about whatever they ask. You won’t get picked.
Atworkwasalreadytake@reddit
Discuss your belief in Jury Nullification during voir dire.
pnw_sunny@reddit
almost seems being honest works. i've been dismissed just about every time.
TheShrewMeansWell@reddit
Don’t do this. We need likeminded people on jurors who are rational thinkers and can see abuses of the system.
Consider the good you could do to correct injustice through invoking jury nullification as a juror!!!!!!!!!!!!
ShadowDragon6660@reddit
My city gives hardly any compensation and maybe parking validation if you’re lucky. I wish it was less of a hassle, but it would be hard to justify losing the time from work for like 20 bucks a day. The courthouse doesn’t even cover meals, so even less than that nets from the day. Was I in a position to afford the lost time, sure I wouldn’t mind serving.
schaudhery@reddit
If you’re a woman my wife just got out by saying we have a baby she is breastfeeding
Main_Science2673@reddit
"Have you ever been the victim of a crime ". Well pretty much everyone has of something (even say a car accident)
tiffanytrashcan@reddit
A coworker stole your pen? Petty theft. Electric chair! Wait..
Dutchboy347@reddit
I normally skip it and write on it in red everyone is guilty of something. My conviction rate is 99.999% you will never hear from them again. I haven't dine jury duty in 15 years
Dropitlikeitscold555@reddit
Tell them you are a huge fan of jury nullification
Doustin@reddit
This might help
IamnotuniqueamI@reddit
If you have to go in for jury selection, stand at the very back of the line. The go in order and once they get enough jurors, the rest are dismissed (or at least that's what I observed).
SapphirePath@reddit
First, it might be useful to understand why you want to not get picked for the jury. After all, somebody has to serve on juries, so this is a public service obligation. A lot of UULPTs are about safely getting vengeance upon or causing harm to someone who 'deserves it', whereas this UULPT sounds like it is more about exploiting others who may well be decent people but with less social power or freedom than you.
To reschedule your jury duty for a time that is more convenient for you, just call up the courthouse and tell them you need to reschedule. You can tell them plane tickets are already purchased (for a work trip or for pleasure travel). You can tell them you are sick (or going to have surgery or recovering from surgery) or are helping a family member (or a friend or a stranger) who is going through something like that. The clerk I talked to didn't ask for a reason, they just rescheduled me.
Assuming that you feel you have to get completely disqualified from Jury Duty, it is usually the case that you need to show up for that initial one day of jury selection voir dire. The online questionnaire only validates that you are a citizen of the relevant locality, speak and understand English, are not full-time unsupported caregiver, and are not a full-time student -- are legally eligible for jury in your jurisdiction. Getting exempted based on the online questionnaire alone usually requires some sort of perjury.
So it is better, if possible, to spend the day in voir dire. Your chances of getting chosen for an actual jury case are pretty low to begin with, but a variety of approaches will absolutely extinguish any chance of service:
* Find a hook that gets you very emotionally invested in the case - recount a close relative who was a victim of a similar crime, or a perpetrator, or a police officer. When anyone asks you if you can still apply the law fairly based on the facts of this case despite your personal experience, give it a suitable pause for thought and then say "No."
* Decide the case in advance, and tell the judge your unshakeable opinion.
* Define yourself as unable to follow the law in this case, because you don't believe that the laws apply or are correct or are morally acceptable or whatever. Religious beliefs work well here. I've also heard that voicing your opinions about "jury nullification" (the understanding that the jury can refuse to obey the judges instructions and declare any defendant innocent despite fact and law to the contrary, and this is difficult to overturn) will get you dismissed, but I've never seen it in action. If you are unable to consider the range of punishments provided by the legal structure for the case you are hearing, you are not eligible for the jury.
* During the breaks, look up facts (or perhaps "facts") about the upcoming case on your cell phone talk about them over lunch. I got to see this knock about six people off of the most recent voir dire, so I can vouch for its UULPT effectiveness.
Regardless of which approach you use, if you make the judge think you are behaving unethically, you should be prepared to be verbally scolded and humiliated by the judge. (The woman in front of me in voir dire made gestures to get the defendant's attention, and then once he was looking at her, she dragged her finger across her throat in an exaggerated cut-your-throat gesture. The judge had her stand up and he berated her in front of the rest of us.) But that's where the judge's power ends -- they don't want to risk you actually being an unacceptable juror, so they are not going to actually force you to serve on a jury out of spite.
Nubian_Cavalry@reddit
If they say anything about OJ Simpson, say you fully support the not guilty verdict.
They put that question in to screen out as many black people as possible in the 90s and 00s
_AJK_@reddit
Personally I think that everyone should be on a jury at one time or another. Do you want to be on trial and have jurors that were too dumb to get out of jury duty? That being said, I am two for two in getting out of jury duty (for criminal trials). Both times I informed the judge that I was a confidential informant. Both times I was interviewed by the prosecutor and defense. I told them that my experience taught me that law enforcement wasn’t as trustworthy as one would think. I was dismissed almost immediately. BTW, as a confidential informant, both judges told me that I was under ZERO obligation to describe what I did and what law enforcement agencies I worked with.
bajafan@reddit
I truthfully put down that I have occasional fecal incontinence and would need time to be able to do diaper changes. Never heard from them again! LOL
Objective-Amount1379@reddit
I’m not suggesting this because jury duty is important but in my county the notice is sent via regular mail. No receipt of delivery. Draw your own conclusions. If you’ve already logged in though you’ve acknowledged you’re received the notice so then just ask for a postponement if you can’t serve right now.
stabbingrabbit@reddit
Use derogatory language towards people fat old religion race LGBTQ etc.
Skeggy-@reddit
Commit a felony and be excused for life.
Desproot@reddit
Not in every state
Fractals88@reddit
Commit a felony while at jury duty, won't get picked (maybe)
Desproot@reddit
now that might work LMAO
karenmcgrane@reddit
I did not do this to get disqualified from jury duty, but here's what happened.
I have moderately severe hearing loss, I wear hearing aids and I rely on captions to watch TV and on Zoom calls.
I requested what's called CART transcription for the jury questioning and trial:
https://www.nad.org/resources/technology/captioning-for-access/communication-access-realtime-translation/
I was given the following options:
I was not asked to provide any proof of my disability. CART transcription I believe would be required under the ADA if requested, same as an ASL interpreter.
Working-on-it12@reddit
Was coming here to suggest this. I got permanently excused from jury pools in 2 counties and my local fed district because of it. I was not asked to prove my disability. I am going to save that thing about CART for other sues, though.
reijasunshine@reddit
Oh wow, my partner wasn't given options, he just basically told them he's got a hearing aid and a cochlear and they said "Okay, thanks anyway."
karenmcgrane@reddit
Yeah it's expensive and they are very likely to be like, ehhh you're good
aLonerDottieArebel@reddit
There was a case about a construction company. When the judge called me up I said I dated a construction worker and most definitely had a bias.
Jazzydiva615@reddit
Give a friendly hello and a long lingering stare to someone of the opposite sex at the defense table.
No-Corner9361@reddit
Tbh it’s one of those things, a lot of people probably don’t even have to lie so much as exaggerate a tiny bit. Unless you’re completely middle of the road on every remotely controversial issue, then you just need to lean into that. Kinda pro police reform? Now you’re not sure you can ever really trust a cop. More of a ‘law and order’ type? Now you’re not sure you can ever really trust someone accused by a cop. Do that for one or two issues, like I say, without really telling any lies, you should easily get disqualified.
Acatinmylap@reddit
A friend of mine got called for jury duty, and during the bit where everyone tries to get out of it by giving excuses when they got to her she said she's eager to serve, because she believes in the system and can't wait to do her part.
At which point BOTH the prosecution and the defense moved for her dismissal.
Culture & Society
My wife is a big fan of the show Sister Wives and has recently been watching Big Love on HBO. Last night, after watching an episode of Big Love, she told me that she wanted a sister wife and punctuated it by saying “I’m serious”. This was not the first request. Btw, we don’t have any religious affiliations, and with the exception of the occasional threesome in our (separate) youth, neither of us have direct experience with polygamy. We are also empty nesters.
In the past, I have laughed it off. I mean, a relationship with one person is difficult enough. I’ve always thought that guys who had a mistress must be insane. Plural marriage just seems like a fresh way to seriously complicate my life.
(She'dmeant what she said, too.Sh
Local_Depth9668@reddit
I tell them I believe anyone arrested is guilty.
Flashy_Okra305@reddit
random-guy-here@reddit
I was one one Jury selection and one man was excused due to his religious principle of not judging a fellow human being. Of course it helped that he had a beard, the tight clothing and came to the courthouse in a horse and buggy - He was Amish. You might not be able to pull that one off.
Child care obligations / Medical appointment for something serious / Need to help your elderly Mom with Doctor visit or care will get you off also. Be ready to prove stuff.
R_O_F_L_S_A_U_C_E@reddit
This happened to me for a grand jurry and i figured out what case it was with google and just answered questions with specific facts about the case when the question referred to something specific
ActuatorOutside5256@reddit (OP)
Thanks!
ironicmirror@reddit
Its easy to get out of jury duty when you are there... Just have an opinion, lawyers hate that.
For the online questionnaire... Just answer in the weirdest way, and perhaps mention your medication that needs to be taken or the voices come back.
ThePureAxiom@reddit
If you demonstrate that you hold strong opinions you're generally an undesirable juror.
The prosecution and defense both want to be able to mold your opinions, having strong ones relevant to the case will make one or the other object to your being seated on a jury.