Sarah Howard
Sarah Howard has worked in the diabetes research field ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange.
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If you are a U.S. citizen, have you ever served on a jury in a legal proceeding while living with T1D? If so, were accommodations made for you to have food/drink, carry any devices, etc.? Share your experience in the comments! Cancel reply
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I only asked that I be able to eat hard candy in the juror’s box if necessary. I was told that was fine and I never needed to anyway. FYI, it was an incredible experience. People should never try to get out of jury duty.
I was summoned but not selected. At the time, I had a broken fibula and needed crutches. People were exceedingly accommodating. However, the 2 days that I spent in those legal proceedings were 2 of the best days of my life. The experience reinforced my faith in the rigor and vitality of the American jurisprudence system. I am rarely impressed with anything. But those 2 days were flat impressive. 💪( ͡❛ ‿っ ͡❛҂)
Yes – and I told the bailiff my situation of taking my purse with me into the courtroom to keep glucose tabs. He told the judge of which had no problem. Very easy.
Long ago before CGM. Now wondering what happens next time cause can’t have it beeping in the court. Can probably shut it off maybe use my Omnipod meter to check. Will ask when I’m called.
I have served on a jury for over a week but I did not need any special accomodations. I am prepared wherever I go without needing anything from anyone. Last time I checked we were all humans so I was just like the rest of the jurors.
I haven’t served on a jury, but I am an attorney and regularly appear in court. Judges have always accommodated me. Not a problem.
I was in a jury pool for 3 days. I asked if my diabetic needs would be a problem. The Courthouse staff said no. I wore my G4 & Animas & had my glucometer & glucose tabs on my person. I was among a large group of people never chosen for a jury & was sent home ar lunchtime on Friday.
Over 30 years ago before the attached electronics, so I had nothing. The trial was to decide if a man’s drivers license should be taken away after thee DUIs. I didn’t think it would take four hours of deliberation, but the small city I live in is very well educated, and we understood how difficult it was going to be to work, obtain goods and services, and function on the west coast with little public’s transportation. Deliberations unexpectedly ran past dinner, and the ensuing blood sugar crash was cosmic. I barely made it home.
Yes, about 2 years ago I was chosen as a juror on a case that ended up lasting 2 months. The judge was great. He asked if I had any medical conditions and I told him about my diabetes and requirements. There was really nothing I needed that was not already available. I told him that I monitored my glucose level with a CGM and that I would take hard candy to cover if I needed it. He and the staff were all aware of my pump and CGM sensor, as were the sheriff deputies protecting the building at the entryway metal detectors. No problems ever arose.
While living with diabetes, I’ve served as a juror on several trials, a few prolonged trials.
I never “requested accommodation “, but rather provided for and managed my diabetes as I needed, including doing many fingertips during testimony.
In NYC court officers were very polite and assured me I could eat candy during the trial if need be. In Baltimore City, the officer was EXTREMELY rude and insisted that my cell phone (with my CGM info on it) would be confiscated if it was turned on. Thankfully that was only during the selection process and I was not selected to actually serve. I complained afterwards about the officer but I’m sure nothing was done. I am now over 70 so don’t have to do jury duty again. I would have liked to fulfill my duty as a citizen but not under those circumstances.
I served on a jury but did not ask for any accommodations. I always have a stash of glucose tablets in my pocket and that is sufficient.
I served on a jury (as the forewoman, no less), and I did not need any specific accommodations — nor did it actually occur to me to ask for any. T1D, dx October 1970.
For years I would get called for jury duty, and during voir dire they learned that my father was a judge and later that I worked in law enforcement. So I was excused. The last time I was called, it was post-911. Now there was a metal detector. My pump (no CGM at that time) triggered the metal detector. I was asked to remove the pump. Nne of the officers would take it so I could pass through the machine. Turns out, the person behind me offered to take it. He was the Mayor (and his assigned protective police officer , of San Diego our city is large) and the former Police Chief! They abided his request. We ended up sitting together in the jury lounge and the Mayor had a grandson with T1D who was gonna start on a pump soon. Great conversation. It was a “huge” trial but they were able to seat a jury so we got sent home.
My experience was very different than those that I have read here. The last time I was called for jury duty was approximately 20 to 30 years ago. That was pre-CGM, and may have been pre-insulin pump. When I was called for jury duty, I told the person (on the phone) that I would need to do blood tests and eat food to treat my diabetes. The person said that would not be allowed. She took me off of the jury duty list and I was never called again. Hmm?
Haven’t served on a jury yet with T1 but I do have a jury summons. Should be interesting.
Other: I served on a jury, but I just carried glucose tablets with me at all times. I didn’t ask for special accommodations.
Served on a 3-week Attempted Murder trial in 2011. The only accommodation made (and needed) was that the judge advised me that, although food was not allowed in the courtroom, if I needed to eat something (such as hard candy, glucose tabs, etc…), I should go ahead, discretely, and if I had a more severe issue I should let her or the bailiff know and, if necessary, she would call a recess.
Very long, intense trial with hours of testimony, and T1 was never an issue.
In reading all the comments, I think there is a problem – the definition of “accommodations”.
While it may seem trivial, permission to discretely suck on a Lifesaver or munch a glucose tab, or to glance at a pump or cgm reader IS an accommodation” in my book. Most judges are VERY strict about things like gum, mints, etc. Without advising them, a T1 juror is setting themselves up for an unfortunate incident. But, most judges are also very reasonable (and discrete) when advised before hand.
But, again, there seems to be varying opinions as to whether to count this as “accommodations”.
Not in US
I was summoned for duty, but they told me they could not provide accommodations. It became a moot point when I wasn’t chosen. If I had made it to the final round, where they ask if anyone has any other reasons for not serving, I think I would have been excused at that point. Even so, I brought my lunch with me and ate while I waited.
I have served on juries once out of 3 times called since the dx. I don’t remember accommodations being made for me, but it is possible as I always had my necessary supplies on hand. 2 out of three times included my pump, BG tester, and glucose tablets. The other included a pen instead of the pump. I am used to the metal alert going off for numerous other medical reasons and they don’t stay in my memory.
I;ve served on juries and have spent hours in jury rooms waiting. I never received explicit “accommodations” (e.g. allowing me to bring in lunch). But, I also took in glucose tablets and asked questions about break times and, if I should have an issue, what were my options. They didn’t excuse me but I also didn’t need to use whatever accommodations would have been needed because of a low blood sugar.
I’ve not served on a jury since getting a CGM… just the waiting room and jury selection scenarios.
I wonder what would happen if I got alarms on my CGM during a trial?!?! That would not be good. I suppose I would have to put it to vibrate only… but those vibrations can be missed.
Hmm… interesting question!
> I suppose I would have to put it to vibrate only
Except Dexcom’s urgent low alarm *can’t* be put on vibrate – or even the volume lowered. (It overrides, does it not?)
I did not ask, but there was not any blood testing available. The second time was the same, but again no blood glucose test devices were available. If I were to serve now, I would uses a headset for my dexcom and use BG meter to keep ahead of the game and get permission to consume glucose without leaving the jury box.
I’ve never requested nor want any
special assistance, only a wee little part of me is damaged. As a TYPE1 I have what I feel I need for any situation. I served once, let go 3 times but I’m old the odds are there for me to be called.
I have a “fanny pack” I offered to the guard to inspect, he just shrugged the flex-pens and snacks off. Same thing at the airports. How I’m the pump they sab my hands, no biggie.
The last time I was called for Jury Duty was in 2015 (civil case). I was using a pump but no CGM. When I was chosen to serve I didn’t bring it up because it was a 1 day trial and if I was going to serve, one day sounded great. When we were briefed we were told we could not leave for lunch because of the short duration. They gave us a very limited menu from a nearby diner and we had to choose from that (they paid). Due to stress my BG was already high when I tested as we started our lunch break and eating diner food on top of it didn’t help as I had no time to pre-bolus.
If I have to serve again I will definitely let them know that I have Type 1 and use a pump/CGM. I’d put the pump on vibrate and would let them know that I would be taking it out of my pocket periodically and might have to take a few seconds to press some buttons. I wouldn’t want them to think I was taking out my phone.
I was called for jury duty in 2009 when I had just begun using a pump. I was very concerned about how to take care of myself, and came prepared with a doctor’s note from my endo in case I needed it. As it turned out, I was assigned to Grand Jury, which meets in a private room, no courtroom involved and no need for special accommodations for me. My biggest problem was resisting the great snacks the others brought in to share!
I served on a federal circuit jury for three months in the 1970’s. It was before the advent of home glucose monitoring, never mind “devices:” No accommodations needed.
I did serve several times, but never said anything more then I was using an Insulin pump and a CGMS that will alarm when my numbers go up/down, I never asked for anything special,