Jury Duty

I had jury duty but I think it got cancelled or something. So I ended not having to go but I could've gotten a letter if need be. I don't know much about jury duty though. I am disabled though because I have an intellectual disability. Though my j pouch has ruined my life.

Thanks for your reply - I'm so sorry to hear that your jpouch has not been helpful.  I know that different people have different levels of success with their pouches.  I had a great surgeon in Boston and I have not had any issues with mine other than the some bum irritation after frequent bathroom trips.  I feel blessed.  I hope your pouch function improves.

I could maybe endure a couple of hours without the need for the bathroom, so sitting on a jury wouldn't be a problem.

The fear of the unknown, the uncertancy and whether the need for the bathroom being on my mind, may compromise my concentration to the facts of the trial.

I would certainly hate to be in the position of having to stop the proceeding so I can use the bathroom, I'm sure throughout a trail, the court will have recesses for this very reason.

If you're keen to complete your Jury Duty, it may be worth asking the Courts whether there's a procedure in place that will enable you to participate without feeling apprehensive.

Thanks for your reply.  Hours and hours without the need to go sounds lovely!  

I agree with you regarding concentration - if ya gotto go, ya gotta go.  

I am going to write about my needs on the form and see what happens.  I am kinda curious about serving on a jury.  

I had no problem with jury duty and felt proud to have participated in a trial.  I suggest that you contact the court clerk and ask about bathroom availability and whether having to use the bathroom during trial proceedings would present a problem.  Based on what you are told, you could decide if you would request exclusion based on “handicap”. 

Glad to hear you had no issues.  I am just a little bit stubborn and I don't want to use my jpouch as an "out" in any area of my life.  I don't let it define me.  I think I would feel proud as well - good for you!  I appreciate your input. 

Ensure to explain to the Courts how your apprehension in regard to using the bathroom "may influence your concentration." 

Such a consideration is a huge point to raise, in regard to providing a fair trial. 

Very good points - thank you!

I get a jury summons every year like clockwork. Sometimes my jury number is called, but usually I don't have to report. When I have had to report, most times I just sit in the jury waiting area all day and never see the inside of the court room. There, I can move about and use the toilet all I want.

The few occasions I had to go to a court room I wound up not being selected. I do tell the judge that I have inflammatory bowel disease with no colon and may have urgent need to use the rest room. They tell me to just raise my hand and they'll take a recess. The one time I got into the jury box for selection I wound up getting dismissed by one of the attorneys. Anyway, they typically would recess before I needed to raise my hand. My main complaint was that the court building is old, the bathrooms are in the basement, and the elevators are slow.

In my state you have to have a written excuse from the doctor to be waived from jury duty until age 70. Long story short, it has been OK for me.

Jan

Thank you Lori I hope it gets better for me too. I am glad I didn't have to serve on a jury but if my j pouch was functioning good it wouldn't have been a problem. I'd be miserable serving anyways and I'd probably get stressed out. 

My surgeon sent a fax informing them that I was inapt for jury duty...at the time my pouch had some serious issues and I would not have been able to sit there for more than 2hrs at a time...

Sharon

I had to get out of mine the last time. Just a note from the surgeon and a visit prior to the scheduled jury selection I went up there and was excused. 

Now I get one for grand jury duty! 

I don't have the pouch. So I can do it. I would find it interesting. 

But. Time is the problem. I work afternoons and don't get up until 11am.  And they want me there at 8 30am. Just getting into REM sleep at that time. Lol. I'd have to get up at 6 30 am to make it to the courthouse. It's 25 miles away! 

Richard. 

I got my doc. To write a letter about my Jpouch. By law a disability is the loss of an organ. No colon And leakage from rectum will get you out of jury duty. Have your doc. Do a letter. Good luck. T. 

I have sat on a jury many times with my jpouch.  I have never found that I needed to inform the judge, nor did I feel that I could not be up to the task.  I always try to remember that if I ever needed a jury I would want someone like me on the panel, therefore I serve.

Sue 

Some years ago I was in a jury selection process that ran quite long - the judge didn't break for lunch and we didn't get out of that room until after 2 PM. I remember thinking that the judge was being irresponsible because any diabetics could get into trouble. I'm lucky enough that it didn't occur to me that a J-poucher  might also be in trouble.