SUSAN STAMBERG, Host: Next time a notice for jury duty shows up in your mailbox, be sure to pay close attention. In Massachusetts, Michael Wylie ran into trouble on this score. Authorities in the Bay State served a criminal complaint because the fellow refused - sort of - to fulfill his obligation to serve on a jury. Poor citizenship? Not exactly. Mr. Wylie has been dead for five years. The problem is he died without finishing up the paperwork for jury service. Seems like a reasonable excuse, but the commissioner in charge of jurors said a death certificate was never submitted, so they kept sending letters about Wylie's failure to report for duty. Now, the criminal complaint's been dropped. Good thing - rest in peace. What were they going to do? Hang him?</s>SUSAN STAMBERG, Host: You're listening to NPR News.
A man in Massachusetts is facing courtroom troubles because he hasn't shown up for jury duty. The reason? He died five years ago. Guest host Susan Stamberg has more.