Sid received a summons for jury duty today. We still have our sense of humor, and I told him - No way would I want him on a jury deliberating MY fate! He agreed, saying he'd never remember anything that was said in the courtroom.
There is a section on the back of the summons to fill out if you think you have a disability that excludes you from service. Well, I certainly think Alzheimer's Disease qualifies.
I have never thought about jury duty, but you're right, Joang! I recently attended a murder trial (my very good friend's son was murdered), and the jury stuff can get pretty serious. My DH could not remember to go to the courthouse, let alone keep track of facts presented in a trial. That's scary.
I did recently read an article that had to do with whether it was OK for a catholic womon with AD in a nursing home to take communion from the visiting Priest because she would have to confess her sins and she would not be able to remember what she had done or not done. I'm not Catholic, so I don't really understand the dynamics of the question, but it was posed. Might sound foolish, but these things come up with AD.
Before my husband showed signs of AD he was called for jury duty. He sent it back saying he fell asleep easily and was over 70. They dismissed him. Now thinking about it, it was probably covering for early AD. I think he knew he was having problems with memory. I have received 2-3 calls since he had AD, I sent it back with the excuse that I am a caregiver for AD. The last time I need a letter from his doctor. Barbarakay
In Texas, AD will excuse a person from jury duty. When I was on jury duty I learned that a person has to be in pretty good physical condition for that job, especially memory. I got my wife M excused from jury duty several times because of AD. Also, after age 70 a person is exempt from jury duty in Texas.
Once I saw an old man and his wife come to the jury room at the court house. He had a jury summons and he told the clerk that he wanted to serve! He had obvious dementia and was a bit manic. The jury deputy smiled politely and said "You are excused and you may return home."
I got one for Larry and our doctor got a chuckle out of it he gave me a note for them..The gal at the courthouse called when I sent the letter she said he has Alzheimers my goodness he is only 53 ..I said yes mam I got a note from the doctor too for you..She said how sorry she was and how much it now concerned her as she was 55 funny how we get the word out about ALZ haah
I got called for Jury Duty at a courthouse it took me 2 hours to get to. I reported, waited and they called me. I went up and said my problem in that my husband had AD and I am his sole caretaker. I actually did not expect them to excuse me, I was hoping they assign me to a closer courthouse. She didn't even ask for proof, just asked how old he was (84) and who was with him then (noone) and whammo... I was on my way home. Thank goodness. I don't know what I would have done had I been assigned.
I recently got jury duty . I mailed in dr's note and letter explaining the hardship. Much to my relief; I did get excused. I was so glad knowing I could not leave him every day for GOD knows how long.
Bill is over 70 and doesn't have to serve jury duty. Just thought of a question, Why do they send a questionair that shows your name and birthdate and the first question is Are you ove 70?
The last summons I received said if serving would cause a financial burden to send a letter to be excused. I wrote and said that I was the sole caregiver to my spouse with AD and to serve I would have to either put him in day care, respite care or a nursing home. Any of these choices would be a definite financial hardship. I received a letter excusing me. This summer I received anothe jury questionaire so I'm waiting to be called again. Wonder if they think he has been cured. I still have a copy of my original letter in My Documents so I'll just send them another copy.,
Being the sole caregiver to someone with a physical or mental disability automatically disqualifies you for jury duty in Florida, and I think it is the case in all of the other states.
My dh has received several Jury Summons over the past few years, including this week, and we have to get our Doctor to sign off as dh is not 71. So rediculous! Don't they understand these people have a disease that does not improve?
If you notice, this thread was started by me in 2007. Both Sid (as a dementia patient) and I (as his sole caregiver) were exempted as jurors, and have never been summoned again.
My dh got called once and I took it to his dr( not nuro) and he asked why he couldnt serve. I said i wouldnt want him on my jury. He apologized and wrote a letter. I never thought about me being able to be dismissed. I will remember that when I get my call. Thanks for the info.
DH was called 2 different times, once before Dx and once shortly after--different Court Jurisdictions. Here registration for jury duty is linked to Driver's Licensing. Both times Igot him out of it with Dr.'s letters. I've been called and served once. Was chosen from the pool for 3 trials but 2 pled out before trial. An interesting experience.
I just had a summons for JD and got excused too..I just told them on the form that DH is an insulin diabetic who has had a stroke, has cardiac issues and has ALZ..no problem..I wish they would just mark the file and not bother me in the future.
MY DH got called to Jury duty about 5 years ago. I had the neurologist write a letter. We got back a notice from the courts that he would never be called again.
I was exempted from county jury duty about five years ago as I was his caregiver. In Texas, once you reach 70, you are automatically exempted unless you choose to serve.
A little off topic, but my grandmother who is 97 got a jury duty notice this past week. She doesn't have AD but is quite frail. She was upset that she wouldn't be able to serve because she couldn't sit that long. We had to calm her down and my mother told her that since she was over 70 she didn't have to go. My mom is 75 but you wouldn't know that from the way my grandmother talks to her. :)
That is so funny. A year or so ago, my dh received a summons to jury duty and he sent it back with a note saying that he was 78 years old and couldn't remember much anymore. But, he'd come if they wanted him. They sent him back a note politely declining. Which bring me to what I was thinking just the other day about Jury Duty ..., what do we caregivers do when the Jury calls? We can't just drop everything and leave our mates and go sit around all day. Have any of you enocuntered this situation before?
mothert I had a notice in the mail about 2 weeks ago for jury duty. There was a cover letter explaining what to do if you couldn't serve. On the back of the notice was reasons you couldn't serve and you just checked whichever applied and sent it back. One of them was sole caregiver for someone who couldn't be left alone.
Apparently, in CA, you get summoned until you are 71 even with the Dr. excuse and explanations. But this time I noticed the question about reading English. My dh can't read at all and marked that. I sent the form in and will let you know if they accept that. You'd think they'd know by now but people and agencies are still very ignorant regarding this disease. As our doctor is always saying, "this is all so new and not enough information ...." etc. etc. I guess they don't know about the wealth of information on this website.
Here in Virginia anyone 70 or older can be excused. I filled out the form, and noted his dementia. Mailed it in to the State. Never heard a word from them.
My husband got a jury summons the other day. I called his doctor and she immediately sent me a note stating he cognitively cannot serve but I know that they can still call him in the future. I asked the county if they could remove his name from their list but was told no. So if he gets called again, I'll have to go through contacting the doctor for a note. Seems like they could have a better way of handling this. He is only 61, so his age alone doesn't disqualify him.
Both my DH and I have been called to jury duty. Both times I called the courthouse and explained the situation. Did not need documentation....but then we live in a small town and everyone knows everyones business.
We also live in a small town and everyone knows us and knows DH has ALZ. I just called the court when he got a summons - no problem. BUT...he also got a Federal summons for jury duty - then I had to get a letter from his Doctor.Don't think there is any way you can permanently be removed from the list - although some areas do use age as a factor. Or you can die.
I got a summons a couple of months ago. There were places you could check and send back to the courthouse. I checked the one for age and also 24 hour sole caregiver of a patient. Don't remember if I put dementia on the form but I never heard back.
4 years ago just before our diagnosis the wife got a summons. I checked the box 'disabled' and explained why. This got her off once but it took a doctor's letter to make it perminent. All easily done in LA County.
As for caregivers - In CA there were too many people being excused so all jurors now serve "one day or one trial". If you can show up at court to ask to be excused, then you can stay the entire day, no excuses . . . .
Something not always appreicated is that courts are LOCAL agencies (city or county) and they make their own rules. So what does or does not work in one area can be very different. Many jury lists are compiled from drivers licenses and voter registrations so if your LO doesnt have a drivers license . . . . ?
However another thought. How many of our AD family members still "vote"? By mail ? With 'any assistance' from you?? In LA County you can become a perminent vote by mail person. Hummmm . . . my wife may remain a 'registered voter' for a long while . . . (illegal, but just thinking)
I got called to Federal Jury and had to have DH dr.write me a letter.He explained I was sole caregiver,so they waited 3 months and sent me another one.Why can they not keep the letter in your file or a check mark by your name? I actually WANTED to go -it would have been a different kind of HELL and they pay you for it.But coud not figure out how to take DH with me.
On the last jury notice I got at the earlier part of this year, as last time, I filled out the form telling them that my DH had heart surgery, has had a small stroke and now has ALZ and there is no family here to relieve me as I am the sole caregiver. I checked on line and was excused.. I once served on a long wrongful death suit..it was not fun...stressful to say the least.
My DH recently was called for Grand Jury. In Florida you can be permanently excused if you are over 70. That was the reason I gave for him. However I did consider taking him there and let them decide.
I wonder if having them removed from the voters roll would stop the jury summons? MY understanding has always been they get the names off the voters rolls. Seems like everytime we move I get one from the old county. Reason: my voter registration has not been changed. I got one in 2008 when we were working in Nevada. I sent a notice to Oregon telling them if they wanted to pay for my driving my motorhome up there plus lost wages and an Rv park I would love to serve. I was released! Now we are on the road again and waiting for the county I am now registered in to send me an invite. On the road will excuse you once.