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It's the United States District Court, District of Hawaii Court.
The state district - circuit courts wouldn't likely be sending Jury Summons outside the island of the courts location because they've a 70 mile exemption.
Most US district courts have like type distance exemptions, problem is, District of Hawaii isn't clear on that matter and would appear to expect people to front for airfare, taxi and accommodations out of pocket who are summoned from neighboring islands. That strikes me as counter to the courts rules regarding undue hardship regarding other matters.
Thinking they're purposely vague on the matter so as to not give people an immediate self evident out in hopes to find people who are willing and or gullible enough to think the court can randomly force people to spend moneys they don't have to front the venture.
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Interesting that the Hawaii US Court site is silent on excusing for distance. California US District Court web site specifies that you can be excused if you are more than 80 miles distant from the courthouse. They say that you may, if you choose, serve from greater distances and that your travel/lodging/subsistence costs will be covered.
I would suspect that it isn't an oversight that Hawaii is silent on this - everyone from off-island would request a waiver automatically. But I have a hard time believing that Federal rules would consider traveling 80 miles in California would be a greater hardship than flying inter-island in Hawaii(although would concede that driving across Los Angeles county would rank a distant second on my enjoyment scale to an inter-island flight from Hilo to HNL).
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Friend of mine was selected and went last year. Flights, hotel, airport cab were paid for. $45 per day for meals and a per diem. Flight out of Hilo, but it was early in the morning, about 7 on Hawaiian.
Puna: Our roosters crow first
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quote:
Originally posted by TomK
No, I haven't. For very good reason.
Tom won't do court unless powdered wigs and funny accents are involved.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLplQWB2S_8
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Yep, that's it. They also don't let those on the jury wear silly wigs which I think is a discriminatory issue and should be changed before those courts can be regarded as fair.
https://youtu.be/nVt1EY896cY
On the other hand, those courts seem to be as lenient as those here...
https://youtu.be/HMJGRZdKblg
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I'd imagine there's a great number of people who would like to do it. They may have family or friends on Oahu, gives them an excuse to leave work and visit them as well provides for, or at least compensates for the journey. Some people may simply want to spend time in Oahu and it's a good excuse to do so.
But, the there are others, who've no interest in leaving the Island they chose to escape the Big city, for them, it's major burden, having to spend several days away from home. For the folks on Oahu, they head home after released for the day, unless sequestered.
So, for some, a lucky windfall, others, a royal PITA. LOL.
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WNK there is another more significant issue as well: your employer is under no obligation to pay you for your days serving on Jury Duty while the Feds are paying you a munificent $40/day per diem. Don't know about you, but a week or so of jury duty could hit someone's bottom line pretty hard...
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the Feds are paying you a munificent $40/day per diem
I'd accept that if they considered a similar pay compensation package for other federal employees. Just as jury duty is an honor and a privilege, I believe serving the American public is too.
Idiots rule the world, but only when there is a fair vote. - Last Aphorisms
"I'm at that stage in life where I stay out of discussions. Even if you say 1+1=5, you're right - have fun." - Keanu Reeves
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quote:
Originally posted by geochem
WNK there is another more significant issue as well: your employer is under no obligation to pay you for your days serving on Jury Duty while the Feds are paying you a munificent $40/day per diem. Don't know about you, but a week or so of jury duty could hit someone's bottom line pretty hard...
According to their Juror FAQ page on their website (
http://www.hid.uscourts.gov/dsp_FAQ.cfm?catid=5&SNPID=27&SNMID=29) ,
Petit (trial) jurors are on call for a 90-day period. Term begins on the issuance date of a juror’s first summons. Although on call, jurors are only be required to report for jury selection one or two times during a service term. Jurors selected for a petit jury are required to serve through the completion of the trial. The average juror serves approximately 2 weeks for one trial.
In my situation, my employer will not pay me for any time I would spend on jury duty. My job requires me to fly to the mainland and overseas during the spring and fall. I am currently working 84 hour work weeks, and to lose several weeks pay during our busy season would be a huge financial hit. I am all for doing one's civic duty, but when it is going to interfere with my ability to pay bills, I will gladly opt out of doing my civic duty this time around.
Wahine
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Side note: I've found that everyone who I have ever seen summoned for jury duty, once they are chosen to be on the jury, take the matter very seriously and don't consider it a waste of time. (except the waiting part - aaargh!) I think it's an interesting testament to Doing the Right Thing.