jury summons

[PhillyJulyLC]

I received a jury summons from the county court yesterday. I remember having read somewhere from this forum how to handle it as a non-citizen. Could anyone who has such an experience share what you have done? I don't feel like filling out the forms and answering all those questions in the questionnaire. Do I have to? - as I already know that I am not eligible. Your input is appreciated!

 

[nkm-oct23]

You will have to fill out the form indicating that you are not a US citizen. There is no escape from filling out the form. ALso keep a copy of the filled out form for your records. Most of the questions will not apply to you.

 

[PhillyJulyLC]

You will have to fill out the form indicating that you are not a US citizen. There is no escape from filling out the form. ALso keep a copy of the filled out form for your records. Most of the questions will not apply to you.

Thanks for the response. I saw questions like education and employment history - almost like a job application. Well, if I have to then I'll do it. Or maybe I can just check non-citizen and leave the rest of the form blank?

 

[Aibolit]

Just check that you are not a US citizen and leave the rest blank. That's what I was instructed to do.

 

[AmericanWannabe]

A few years ago an Austrilian with GC served on Jury and it was found
he was not a citizen during the process plus he once voted. INS
put him into the deporation procedure. I could not find if
he was indeed deported or not eventually

 

[pralay]

A few years ago an Austrilian with GC served on Jury and it was found
he was not a citizen during the process plus he once voted.

Yes, lying at court is perjury which is extremely serious crime.

 

[AmericanWannabe]

Yes, lying at court is perjury which is extremely serious crime.

He did not lie at the court. In court, he was aksed if he is a citizen
and he honestly said "No", then it prompted an investigation
how come a non-citizen ended up in a jury. Then it was found
he registered for vote. He said he did not know he was not suppsued
to register and vote (I wonder if he missed the citizen yes/no
check on the registeration and juror form or he just misread it).

The reason he was to be deprted is he participated in the election

 

[PhillyJulyLC]

He did not lie at the court. In court, he was aksed if he is a citizen
and he honestly said "No", then it prompted an investigation
how come a non-citizen ended up in a jury. Then it was found
he registered for vote. He said he did not know he was not suppsued
to register and vote (I wonder if he missed the citizen yes/no
check on the registeration and juror form or he just misread it).

The reason he was to be deprted is he participated in the election

In my case they must've randomly chosen potential jury members 'cause I've never registered to vote or done anything even close. Thanks for sharing everyone. I appreciate it.

 

[pralay]

In my case they must've randomly chosen potential jury members 'cause I've never registered to vote or done anything even close. Thanks for sharing everyone. I appreciate it.

Every state has its own method to call for jury. For example in California, court gets resident list (of that county) from DMV. Court does not check citizenship status and randomly picks up names from list (excluding those who served in jury within a year).

 

[lonely5]

But no matter what, make sure you send back the form to the Jury Selestion panel otherwise court would have an arrest warrant

 

[AmericanWannabe]

But no matter what, make sure you send back the form to the Jury Selestion panel otherwise court would have an arrest warrant

How do they select juror candidates? If they do this by using DMV records,
then DMV records should flag one's immigration status. If they do this by
using voter's registration records, then noncitizen should not be seleced
unless a noncitizen already illegally registered (of course coan be legally
too because some townships do allow noncitizen to vote)

How does one increase or decrease his chance of being selected?

 

[pralay]

If they do this by using DMV records,
then DMV records should flag one's immigration status.

In some states (including California) immigration status check (from USCIS) is required to get (or renew) driver's license. But DMV records itself does not have any "flag" for immigration/citizenship status.

If they do this by
using voter's registration records, then noncitizen should not be seleced
unless a noncitizen already illegally registered (of course coan be legally
too because some townships do allow noncitizen to vote)

Compare to voter's registration record, DMV record is bigger because voter's registration is voluntary (well, driver's license too, but....). Some people can always avoid jury summons by not registering in voter's list. I have seen too many American citizens who never voted and never registered to vote.

 

[harvydonald]

I got jury summons once when I was on H1B.
I went to the court house, and told the judge that I was not a citizen, he said he would excuse me if I wanted to, else I could serve on the jury.
I served on the jury....

 

[AmericanWannabe]

I got jury summons once when I was on H1B.
I went to the court house, and told the judge that I was not a citizen, he said he would excuse me if I wanted to, else I could serve on the jury.
I served on the jury....

You must be kidding