COEUR d'ALENE - Some citizens are asked to go the extra mile to do their civic duty.

But 800 miles?

That's what Idaho's courts demanded of 55-year-old long-haul trucker Larry De Ment, who with his wife, Sandy, relocated from Spirit Lake to Boise in February. The De Ments moved because Larry had gotten a job driving trucks for a company based in Salt Lake City, Sandy said.

While preparing for the move, Larry received a jury summons for the federal court in Coeur d'Alene. After filling out the appropriate paperwork he was granted a one-year extension.

"We assumed it would transfer to the Boise court, which was fine," Sandy told The Press on Monday. "But we didn't expect that after we moved we would have to come back to Coeur d'Alene."

However, when Larry received his summons earlier this month, he discovered he was being summoned to the courthouse in Coeur d'Alene, which would require an 800-mile round-trip and at least a week off work.

"It would have a significant financial impact on us," Sandy said. "We know we would be reimbursed, but we would still need to have the funds to get up there. Not to mention the time involved."

Larry asked to be dismissed from jury duty due to the hardships involved. The request was denied because, according to a letter from the U.S. District Court, there was "no basis" for granting the dismissal.

Sandy called the court's decision "ridiculous" and submitted a letter to the editor to The Press, expressing exasperation at the situation.

"Yes, the court will pay him a per diem of $146 per day in court plus 56.5 cents per mile, for him $452," Sandy wrote. "We are more than happy to serve our civic duty, but at what expense to us and to the taxpayer?"

On Monday, The Press contacted Jury Administrator Sherry Karcher, who said Larry's jury service had been transferred to the district court location in Boise on Nov. 13.

"We wouldn't expect them to drive up to Coeur d'Alene," Karcher said.

Karcher told The Press she would contact the De Ments to inform them of the transfer, adding that it is a common occurrence for residents to move and have their jury duty switched to a closer location.