>>>>>>>>>I have to start looking at my mail more closely. I received a jury summons last week.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Unless I get a chance to send somebody back to Gitmo, I think I'll pass. <s>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>And how is it that you're going to pass?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>FWIW, Marshal got a summons for jury duty last week, too, but we'll be in Switzerland when he's supposed to serve. He's already sent the requisite letter. I'm sure he'll be rescheduled.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Tamar
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>What happens about compensation for loss of earnings while serving in the US ?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The actual "pay" varies by state. In KY, you receive the princely sum of $12.50/day. Many private employers pay your normal wage and all you have to do is turn in the state paycheck.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The judges recognize that the pay sucks and tell you that they realize it...but that you are to be there anyway, lest the constables come by your house with a summons.
>>>>>
>>>>>I think we get more in the UK but basically the same idea. If you are self employed its not good.
>>>>
>>>>New York pays $40/day, waived if employer continues paying. Most employees get paid normal wages for jury duty.
>>>
>>>In North Carolina, district court pay is different than county court pay. County court pay averages 12.50/day but is different in each county. District court pay averages 40.00/day and 55 cents per mile driving to court from your home and back each day. If you live more than 70 miles from court, they will put you up in their wonderful sleazebag hotel (no internet service) for the duration. No cell phones, laptops, or electronic devices are permitted inside the building period for district court here. Parking is 9.00/day and you have to pay yourself each day and then file for reimbursement at trial completion. If you served on any court (of the same level) within the last 24 months, you can be excused. If you receive a summons for district court jury duty and you served within 24 months in county court, too bad. It is more common today for employers to subtract your jury duty pay from your salary.
>>>
>>>I know this because last year I served on county court jury duty and next week I start a 2 week district court jury duty sentence.
>>
>>What happens if its a long case ?. I know some city fraud cases in the UK have lasted for over a year.
>
>Same thing. No difference. It just goes on and on and on. Your employer cannot fire you for attending jury duty, but there are cases where employees have sued their employer after returning to work and then getting laid off shortly after (usually because the employer had to hire someone else in the duration of the trial but they find other ways of letting the employee go). It gets messy. Not to mention for some courts, there is no cell phone or laptops allowed so for really long trials, you are incommunicado which is not good career-wise either. Also, the laws protecting jurors employment during jury duty really only pertain to employers with >50 employees in many cases.
>
>The law for federal court:
>
>Employers' Obligations - Federal Courts
> Federal law does not require employers to pay their non-exempt employees' wages for jury duty. Employers are, however, required to (1) consider employees on a leave of absence during jury service; (2) continue their insurance and other benefits according to established leave of absence policies; and (3) reinstate employees to their positions without loss of seniority. Federal jurors are paid $40 per day and, in most courts, reimbursed for reasonable transportation and parking expenses.
>
> For exempt employees, deductions may not be made for absences of an employee caused by jury duty. The employer may, however, offset any amounts received by the employee as jury fees against the salary due for that particular week without loss of the exemption.
>
>Employers' Personnel Policies
> Although not required to by law, many employers also pay the difference between jury duty pay and the employee's regular wages. If your company has an employee handbook, it's a good idea to include your jury duty policy in it to ensure that the policy is applied consistently.
>
>Prohibited Actions by Employers
> Both state and federal law prohibit employers from discharging, threatening or coercing employees who are summoned for jury duty or who are subpoenaed as witnesses in court proceedings. Employers may be fined up to $500 or imprisoned up to thirty days or both under state law and fined up to $1,000 per violation under federal law. In addition, employees who are discharged in violation of this law may seek reinstatement, lost wages and reasonable attorneys' fees from the employer.

I was called here once many years ago. I was working on a contract for London Fire and Civil Defence Authority at the time so I managed to get out of it. I would have liked to have done it but couldn't afford it .