Legal Question in Constitutional Law in Pennsylvania

Re: Summons

He can be arrested by the sheriff and made to go to serve or in the alternative be arrested and fined and possibly jailed. It once happened to a law student who blew of jury duty.

So what in God's name does you friend have to do that's more important than jury duty. Apparently nothing or he could be excused if he's doing something really important.

Would your friend be willing to waive he right to a jury to get out of jury duty? How about his right to vote?

Sorry but I am incensed. Who does your friend think he is. In Pennsylvania like Massachusetts even lawyers can be call to jury duty. In one case they even called a sitting US Supreme Court Justice to jury duty. He showed up and was even sent to a courtroom as a potential juror. So what is your friend doing that he can't show up.

I personally was on a Grand Jury in New York that meet 5 days a week for a month.

So what is the hardship that so slight he won't even asked to be excused?

So tell me what's your reason for ignoring the summons. Feel free to contact me I'd like some answers.

{John}

Re: Summons

Its sort of similar to a traffic ticket. The city will keep contacting him for jury duty, over and over again. Eventually, if he misses jury duty enough, the government will put a warrant out for his arrest. When he gets picked up on the warrant he can be held in contempt and eventually sentenced to a period of incarceration.

On a separate note, I read the response by the other lawyer. EVERYTHING he said is 100% correct. I am assuming that 'your friend' simply didn't realize how serious serving on jury duty can be. Also, if your friend can't make it on that day, just call for a continuance. Simply, make sure that you show up a some point in the very near future.

Re: Summons

I wouldn't worry about it: the worst that could happen is that he gets arrested, thrown in prison, and marked a criminal for the rest of his life. The prison term will be unpleasant and dangerous while the separation from society will strain virtually all of his professional and personal relationships, breaking many of them. He'll need to find someone to pay all of his bills and look after his property while he's away (perhaps you!). Then he'll need to explain it away every time he applies for a job, credit, or anything else.

That's all.