I dont know if I'd call myself a fan, but as a juror, it's not a completely horrible experience…read more I'm writing all this down because there's a surprising lack of information on here about it.
I had rescheduled Jury Duty and carefully calculated myself to report the week of Thanksgiving, hoping to get excused due to the holidays. I *think* this would have worked if I had remembered to check in on the correct day. My call-in day was the day before Thanksgiving. I didn't check in until Friday.
That was my stupid mistake.
Don't make this mistake.
Anyway, when I checked in on Friday, I was given a new juror call-in group. I had to call in on Monday... then Tuesday... and on Wednesday I was requested to come to the courthouse at 8AM.
*screams into the void*
PARKING: There's free parking JUST FOR JURORS across the street. There are metal detectors when you enter the courthouse. Please don't bring any weapons or anything dumb.
AMENITIES: Vending machine, WiFi, work tables and power outlets along some walls, a fridge and microwave for your lunch if you bring one, and unisex individual bathrooms in the jury waiting room. No cafeteria on site... you'll have to get in your vehicle or walk somewhere for a proper lunch. If you make it to lunch, your lunch break is from 12PM - 1:30PM.
PROCESS: After the metal detectors, you follow the signs for "Jury Assembly Room". You check in there and get your jury badge at 8AM. You watch an orientation video telling you the importance of serving. Then you wait. Please don't be an asshole and talk on your phone on speaker in the assembly room, it's annoying. Do bring headphones if you hate the sounds of people and want to watch something on your ipad or phone.
Once the courts were finally in session, all the jurors were randomly separated into groups of about 75 and sent to courtrooms. This is when the judge tells you the foundational gist of what the trial will be about, and about how long you will be on trial if chosen.
From there, about 24 people were randomly selected and asked pertinent questions by the judge and attorneys. Questions like occupation, do you know cops, have you had bad experiences with them, can you in good faith produce a fair and unbiased judgement on the case based on the content of the case.
Based on your answers, you will either stay or be dismissed. If a person is dismissed, someone else from the pool of people in the courtroom will take their place.
SPOILER ALERT: Just because English isn't your first language doesn't mean you will automatically dismissed. Even the guy who worked graveyard until 5am who showed up at 8am on no sleep AND didn't speak English fluently wasn't dismissed... so you're going to have to suck it up. Sorry folks, we all don't want to be there.
If for some reason you cannot serve and are excused by the judge, you are done for the day and have fulfilled your service for the year. You can pick up a note from the assembly room if you need it for work.
I think that covers everything. Bring entertainment, headphones, snacks, and hope you don't get called... but there's a good chance you will if you're there.