Have you ever served on a jury before? If not sitting for hours in a chair having to pay attention and not knowing how long the trial will take can be very hard on someone with Fibro. Just tell the clerk of courts your condition will not permit being seated for hours or with fibro fog not able to follow the procedings and it would not be fair nor just for all involved. They may require a doctors note But I don't think they will. Besides you can disqualify yourself during jury selection simply by saying the right thing. They ask if you are familular with the case and if that knowledge would interfere with you being objective.
I enjoyed my jury duty. It opens your eyes to the jurors of what is more important to them going home to fix dinner for jonny or saving a falsely accused.

very simple tell them you don't beleave in the system thats all you need.they don't care about your fibo or pain, yhis info came from a lawyer

Last month my husband was summoned and a note written by our doctor was faxed to the number given by the Country Clerk Office and we was waived, funny part he had a Doctor appt that week so it all worked out nice and tidy.

This depends totally on the official dealing with prospective jurors. I was told that there would be sufficient breaks for jurors, and that pain was not an excuse.

However, I have see 2 people escape jury duty. The first was a man who responded to the judges question as to whether he could listen to both sides fairly by saying "No body ever accused me of being open-minded." He was excused.

The second was a woman who came into the jury assembly room with her husband. Husband talked to the official, saying that he had to remain with his wife at all times because she did not know about anything outside of the house, did not know how to make a decision, would be unable to find her way to a restaurant for lunce, etc. The official said that she could just go -- dealing with the husband was just too much bother.

I suppose you could try showing up complete with cane, soft pillow, and moan & groan as much as possible. No guarantees, though.

Rhonda, I would do the doctor faxing a note thing. If that didn't work, when you showed up the first day, I'd try the other suggestions. I remember when I had to serve (before my diagnosis), the head guy at the very beginning asked the whole group if anybody had any physical reason for not being able to serve, to come up front and tell him about it. A lot of people got off that way.

Anyway, good luck....I believe you'll be able to get out of it.
ELizabeth

Thank you to all that reply! You've been a help to me!

The last time I received a jury duty summons my Dr at the time wrote a note explaining why I could not do that physically because of fibro and they havent asked me since then, that was about 7 years ago.

Many medical issues are viable reasons for dismissal from jury duty. I am sure that fibro has got to be one of them. If not I am sure any doctor would write a letter requesting your being excused. Hope you are excused from this. Or just say if they got arrested they must be guilty. You will be dismissed then I assure you.

I worked for an Internal Medicine Dr for 14 years and he would write a note either in letter form or on a prescription that the individual couldn't do jury duty due to medical condition and the patient was excused. So whatever Dr you see for your fibro just ask them to do that and you shouldn't have any problems :) Good Luck!! Hope this info helps.

Good suggestions. Start with the doctor's note and if that doesn't work and you actually find yourself in the chair, during the jury selection process they ask questions. Tell them whatever is the truth in your case - best answer is for whatever reason you don't feel you can be objective ("if he got arrested he must be guilty" is a great answer).

In my case I have been the victim of more than one violent crime (rape, domestic violence) and when I disclose that they can't get me out the door fast enough.

My summons had an area to check off if you are disabled. You had to write the name of your doctor and what your conditions were. I filled it out and sent it in and have never heard anything back.

They don't want anyone who cannot sit comfortably and listen. Don't fret over it.

When I was summoned, there was info included on what to do if you could not serve. In my case it did require having the Dr write a note explaining things.

It has been close to ten years since I was to serve jury duty. My doctor wrote a note on a Rx pad that I had an on going medical condition that I would not be able to sit on a jury. Mailed it in and recieved a letter of permanent excuse....have not heard from them again...do not think the doctor has to put any details on what the condition is. That is confidental I would think..?

I got my doctor to write a letter to the court explaining that I would never be able to sit on a jury. Sitting still for hours on end is awful. I once tried to be on a jury, but the chairs were so close to each other than I couldn't move at all (now why could they want to make the jury so uncomfortable when they are making a life or death decision). Combine that with the fact that none of those involved spoke English and my brain was too addled to be an effective juror. Lots of great advice here.

Someone suggested to me tell them you can't remember and have to take notes during the trial. They don't allow this. So far all they asked me is if I was able to serve and I said no that I have Fibro. Have not heard back yet.....
I wish u luck wish me luck!
Diane