In a predicament

[SoulSearchingMan65]

Hi everyone. Longtime lurker, first time poster. I'll try to keep this as short as possible. I'm a 33 y/o male who lives in the U.S. and yesterday got called for federal jury duty in the state capital. Needless to say, this set off a range of negative emotions inside me. I've done the county jury duty twice, but luckily never got picked for a jury.

However, the period for this federal jury trial is almost two weeks. Now it isn't until early May, but it is definitely weighing on me. I've talked to my dad about this and get the sense that he doesn't fully understand what I'm going through. I believe that I also had a panic attack, trying to explain what I was thinking.

The only way I see possibly getting out of this, is if I have some kind of diagnosed mental illness. The problem is, the only thing I've ever been diagnosed with at a young age, was a learning disability. I've always been skeptical of doctors and wanted to avoid going that route. But, right now I see no other possible way.

My father talked about maybe getting in contact with my late mother's doctor, but I just have a bad feeling about all of this. I just feel like I'm in such a hopeless position and have such a bleak future. I feel trapped, being unemployed with no car, since I have a fear of driving. So, basically I have no way of living independently.

Thanks again for this forum, since outside of my father, I have no one else to talk to.

 

[Red Scare]

Just go to the interview and botch it up on purpose so that would never pick you as a juror.

Say things like "well if they were arrested and charged, they must be guilty", make them think you are a racist, say things like "oh, black people are always guilty" of course you don't mean it, and it's a horribly racist thing to say, but if you make them think you are an undesirable and biased juror, they won't want to pick you.

I was called for jury duty once, and I phoned in every day at the right time. I never got selected or anything like that, it never went any further than calling in at the specified time to see if I had been selected. If I had got as far as an interview I would definitely botch it so they wouldn't want to pick me.

But then again, it could be interesting. I watched a lot of law & order and it might be cool to be on a jury.

 

[FuneralCry]

I understand that it can be awful having dread for the future. Feeling like you are trapped can be such a horrible feeling. I'm sorry that you are suffering. I wish you the best in whatever happens.

 

[_Seeking]

When I last got called for jury duty, I called and said I couldn't do it for medical reasons. They will give you 6 months to get the medical records together before they call you again. It could at least buy you some time until you get a doctor's note to get out of it.

 

[lostmylove]

Tell them you don't believe in democracy and rule of law and idk give them a uneasy feeling

 

[SoulSearchingMan65]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. The forms that I have to fill out, don't require me to provide proof of my mental issues. So, I just typed in a few of my issues like panic attacks and fear of driving, plus a learning disability. I'll see if they accept that as enough. If not, then it opens up another uncertain path with doctors and that whole process. I'm prepared for the worst, but keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[locked*n*loaded]

It's easy to get out of jury duty. Just say anything controversial if it gets to the point of voir dire for you. Start an answer to any question asked of you with, "Well, I have a lot of trouble concentrating on things I'm hearing". There's no stigma with that answer. You don't need a diagnosed mental illness to have trouble concentrating. They won't want you. Neither side will. They need people who can and will pay attention.

 

[SoulSearchingMan65]

Sorry for taking so long to reply, but I needed some time to think about my life and maybe have some enjoyment. So, my request to be excused based on filling out the online ejuror questionnaire was denied. I only just found out a short time ago after checking the online system. I feel like an idiot, but for more than 3 weeks I thought that any official response would come through the mail. It was denied a few hours after I submitted the questionnaire.

I'll let my dad know later, since he asked about it earlier and I said that I didn't know anything. Needless to say, my dad and I both agreed that there was no way that I could go. Now, I'm not completely surprised that I was denied. In fact, I've become more cynical and pessimistic of this world over time, but it still feels disappointing and unfortunate.

Thanks again everyone for the advice. I have a hard time seeing my life getting any better, especially with the way the world is, but I'm glad that a place like this exists.