The Last Summons

Waiting room, 2017: won't get fooled again.

Three months ago I received a summons for jury duty. Unable to attend because of our Hawaii trip, I rescheduled the appearance to August 1st. A pre-recorded message on the night before said that my group, 1003, was excused and won't be summoned again for at least 12 months. Meanwhile, questions.

Is there an age ceiling for jury duty? Being too old is not among the list of San Mateo County's disqualifications.

A slightly different slant: is being too old a sufficient excuse for not serving? No. [bold added]

YOU MAY REQUEST TO BE EXCUSED IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO SERVE AS A JUROR BECAUSE...You are 70 years of age or older and have a medical condition. We excuse ONLY for the medical condition, not for age. There is NO age exemption in CA. This is not a permanent excusal.

Elsewhere the SM County website states that a medical excuse for a potential juror must have "a supporting letter, memo, or note from a treating health care provider."

One would have to be a very careful reader of government-ese to wonder why the "70 years of age or older" medical passage was written, if oldsters had to get a doctor's permission slip like everyone else.

The Orange County website explains the mystery: [bold added]

There is no age exemption for jury service. If you are 70 years of age or older, the California Rules of Court allow you to be excused due to a medical condition without a doctor’s note. You must inform the court that you are not able to serve.

San Mateo County is being highly misleading, if not dishonest, by not clearly stating that a 70+-year-old does not need a doctor's note. I vote, answer summonses, pay parking tickets and taxes, trying to adhere to both the letter and spirit of the law. No longer: I am not inclined to help them out because of this dishonesty.

My lumbago is getting worse, and it attacks suddenly without notice....