This is not true jury duty, it is more like pre-jury-duty. You are waiting around to be potentially picked for a jury trial.This booklet explains many of these laws you need to know and provides resources where you can find more information about landlord and tenant issues. You are legally required to appear and refusing to answer a direct summons is a very bad idea. Some courts may have a TDD or TTY in the Clerk's office. If someone here were able to figure out what court you're going to and show the judge this question, think how much worse your problem will be. Is it just bc you are unpaid for a while and away from family or is it the actual act itself thats upsetting? Edit: wow such low pay? Patrick Lawless has extensive experience handling appeals before the New York Appellate Division. He has briefed and argued more than 100 appeals.