re: Do you know anyone that actually got in trouble for skipping jury-duty summons?

He did not skip juror duty, but he tried to avoid being on the jury.

So, years ago, we had a juror who decided he would get out of jury duty by telling the judge he could not be partial and hated everyone. He hated injured people and hated lawyers and hated insurance companies. He was feeling pretty smug and confident that he was about to be set free, but the judge was wise to his game.

She asked him if he preferred the library or the zoo. He looked at her astonished and said he did not understand. She said, " We all must perform our civic duties and give back to the community. So I was wondering if you would prefer to assist the public library with shelving books or perhaps feeding the animals at the zoo.....that is, unless you have had a change of heart and now feel that you can be unbiased and listen the evidence and make a sound ruling."

His face was white as a sheet and he acknowledged his change of heart.

Of course, she did not have the authority to do this, but in the moment he did not want to roll those dice. Both sides agreed to kick his arse....but it was a funny moment.