AI to the Rescue: How ChatGPT Got Me Out of Jury Duty (Temporarily)

This week’s AI tip is all about CONTEXT and TIME SAVING. It’s also a real world scenario that happened to me.?

Last fall I received, for only the second time in my life, a jury summons - this time for Federal District Court. I had a legit conflict and needed a deferment to attend an important family event. I also had zero experience interacting with the courts (thankfully) and didn’t have a good feel for exactly how to word my deferment request.?

No problem! AI can help!?

Below is my prompt and the response I received in 2 seconds from ChatGPT. Again, this is not rocket science; I could certainly have composed this email myself - but ChatGPT was FAST and provided me confidence that I was conveying my request with the proper CONTEXT, TONE and LEVEL OF RESPECT required to achieve a favorable reply to my request. Rather than allocate the 10 min it would have required to draft the email and agonize about whether or not it had the proper tonality, ChatGPT helped me knock it out in 3 min and move on to other more important tasks.

Bring AI into your daily life! I’m confident that it will make you more effective and efficient.

PROMPT:

I need you to draft an email to the Federal District Court in Philadelphia requesting a deferment to a jury summons I received for service for the period of 10/25/2023 - 10/27/2023. The reason for my request is that I have an existing family obligation to attend my daughter's parents weekend at Washington University in St Louis. Missing this family event would be an extreme disappointment for me, my family and my daughter. I am certainly willing to serve on another date.?

AI RESPONSE

Subject: Request for Deferment of Jury Service

Dear [Recipient’s Name],

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing to respectfully request a deferment of my jury service scheduled for the period of October 25, 2023, to October 27, 2023. The reason for my request is that I have an existing family obligation to attend my daughter’s parents’ weekend at Washington University in St. Louis. This event is of significant importance to my family, and missing it would be an extreme disappointment for me, my family, and especially my daughter.

I am fully committed to fulfilling my civic duty and am certainly willing to serve on another date that does not conflict with this family obligation. I kindly ask for your understanding and consideration in this matter.

Please let me know if you require any additional information or documentation to process this request. I appreciate your time and attention to this matter.

Thank you very much for your understanding.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]

[Your Contact Information]

[Your Jury Summons Number]

Please review and adjust any details as needed before sending.