Osceola jury duty no shows reprimanded

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Some residents in Osceola County have some explaining to do. About 30 people were scheduled to be in court Tuesday to tell Judge Belvin Perry Jr. about why they didn't show up for jury duty.

There are hearings going on throughout the day at the courthouse. Perry presides over the 30 or so cases and told the accused jury dodgers that they should have shown up.

Some said they never received the jury summons or they moved. Others simply said that they didn't have time for jury duty, and most of those types of defendants received a fine.

They were also given a new date assigned to serve.

"The basic thing is to try to call. We will try to work with you to reset it. A number of people want to be permanently excused and unfortunately we generally can't do that," said Perry.

A number of people didn't bother to show up for Tuesday's hearing either, which will not go unnoticed.  Perry was kind enough to send them another summons, but if they don't respond, then he will issue arrest warrants in their cases.

WFTV