Avoiding jury duty while living abroad

If this is the wrong area to most this, my apologies - mods feel free to move it.

I'm still waiting to hear back from my spousal visa app (Its past the point of 14 weeks) and I was just told by my brother back in Missouri that I received a letter from the state of California saying I have 30 days to respond before I am issued a warrant for not appearing for jury duty. No, the original jury duty letter asking me to come was not received by my brother. (I would guess it was sent back to the courts with a forwarding address and that's how they got my brother's address in MO where I get mail at.) Yes, its funny that they sent a letter to a state thousands of miles away to me inquiring why I didn't come to jury duty in another state... 

This is the 2nd jury duty request since last November. The first one I actually got days before I was leaving for the UK and sent in a letter to get it dismissed. I made it clear I was not coming back to the states.

I read that they get the names for duty from voter registration and from the DMV. I did not register to vote in that state so it has to be the DMV. Since I will be paying CA state tax while over here the next few years I would at least like to keep my drivers license in case it is ever needed in the future. Is there anyway to avoid being called for jury duty while being in another country? I am lucky that my brother got the "your in trouble" letter, because that of course could cause visa issues if its not resolved.

I don't want to have to guess for at least the next few years if I'm in trouble for not replying to a request I won't get or even living in that state.

Does anyone have experience with this?  Did you have to give up your drivers license and how does one go about that. I'm calling the courts tomorrow to try to settle this, so any advice is welcomed.

I've been called like 5 times, all while I was out of state.

I just called my local place each time and explained.  I did give up my PA license, since I don't have to pay state tax.

DH and I have both been called while living here.  Both times we had to fill out a form online stating why we were not able to come and then fax proof of living abroad like a lease or bill or something. 

Probably a simple explanation but how can you have drivers licence in California if you don't have a residence there? My point is that you don't have a drivers license in California because you don't live there.

I've only ever been called for jury duty while out of the country (on holiday & living here). I have changed my address to my parents, so they get the requests and have been able to notify them that I am out of the country and unable to return.

If you plan on keeping your license, there is no way to avoid being called (random selection after all) and you should have your license reflect an address where someone can open the letter on your behalf. 

And Cheers- I was able to maintain my PA DL because I still filed State taxes, which filled my residency req. No idea on the CA laws, but it is possible.

Thanks for the replies. I called the court house today and was told to fax something in saying that I'm out of the country.  I asked if they wanted any proof faxed with it, they said no. I found that odd. I'll find something proof related and fax it along tomorrow anyway.

Although their website said they get names by DMV and voter registration, they told me on the phone that they got my name via voter registration - I have never registered to vote in that state. Very weird. So after calling the voter reg. office they are mailing me (or not, who knows, the man on the phone sounded like he cared less.) something for me to sign and mail back stating I want off the voter registration. 

Danielle - Thanks I think it would just be less of a headache to get rid of my license.  I'll jump that hurdle when I have the patience to be on hold with the DMV to talk to someone about it. Maybe next week. I've had enough bologna to deal with this week 

I was initially suprised to see how many of you had been called to be on a jury - I've only ever known one person in the UK to be called. 

In the UK, they only really have juries for those criminal cases serious enought to be heard at the Crown Court (and a vanishly small number of defamation case).  However, in the states, I think I'm right in saying that you have juries for a much greater range of disputes - such as personal injury cases.

I think I was only called for jury duty once (in MA) -- years ago when I was first living in the UK. My mother simply phoned them and explained I was abroad. I have never been called again

My daughter, a dual national, but never really lived permanently in the States, was called twice. She was registered to vote in MA but never had a driving license. Again, we explained and she was excused.

My son, also a dual national, has been living in MA for about 15 years, has a license and is registered to vote. He has been called several times -- but has never been empanelled.

I know someone who was called years ago when she was something like 8 1/2 months pregnant. She was excused then and has never been called again.

So who knows what their selection process is.