topic Re: Jury Duty in Community Chat

Jury Duty

SeaMaiden — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 16:49:39 GMT

So, I call tonight a phone number to see if I need to go in tomorrow, Wednesday for duty selection..... If I need to be there, it is at 8 AM. What should I wear? It is going to be about 78 degrees tomorrow. Can I wear sleeveless? I know T shirts are frowned upon... Maybe I will just wear my red hot pants and white GO GO boots....

I know nothing about the jury duty process.... first time. On average how long does the process take from arriving first day of jury duty picking... to knowing if you are let go or not?

I really hope I do not have to go at all... and if I do, that I am not picked. I am not Anti USA or anything, but, right now I have a lot on my plate... and a dog having major surgery coming up in just a week or so. I just do not need more distractions.

Hoping that that phone call I make tonight tells me I am not needed.

Re: Jury Duty

Lisa Y — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 17:06:33 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
So, I call tonight a phone number to see if I need to go in tomorrow, Wednesday for duty selection..... If I need to be there, it is at 8 AM. What should I wear? It is going to be about 78 degrees tomorrow. Can I wear sleeveless? I know T shirts are frowned upon... Maybe I will just wear my red hot pants and white GO GO boots....

I know nothing about the jury duty process.... first time. On average how long does the process take from arriving first day of jury duty picking... to knowing if you are let go or not?

I really hope I do not have to go at all... and if I do, that I am not picked. I am not Anti USA or anything, but, right now I have a lot on my plate... and a dog having major surgery coming up in just a week or so. I just do not need more distractions.

Hoping that that phone call I make tonight tells me I am not needed.

@SeaMaiden I can't say there is an average wait time for jury duty process. Years ago when I had it, it started at 8:00 AM, but the case was resolved w/o a jury at 3:00 PM so we were let go. You may not even get called.

In terms of what you wear, I would say go casual: crop pants, a nice top, and sandals. Good luck!

Re: Jury Duty

CelticCrafter — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 16:59:36 GMT

Depends on where you live.

In the county I live in in NJ - it's one day or one trial if you get picked - usually 2-3 days.

Should tell you right on the summons what the terms of service are.

Re: Jury Duty

Carol Diane — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 17:06:30 GMT

SeaMaiden, when I went for jury duty, I picked out nice pants with a top and blazer. I noticed that those who looked sloppy weren't chosen so depending on the outcome you want, that thought might help you choose your outfit lol!

Re: Jury Duty

cerb — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 17:11:03 GMT

Like CelticCrafter said, jury duty varies by state. In CA, you're on stand-by for one week, calling in nightly to see if you report the next day. If you have to report, it's for one day. Then you're excused for at least a year, or you go through the jury picking process, which varies in length depending on the type of trial.

In CA they want you dressed nicely. No sleeveless tops, no tee-shirts, no jeans, shorts, or capris, no sandals.

Edited to add: people dressed casually were still selected for a jury that I sat on, but the bailiff gave instructions to everybody on what they should and should not be wearing the next day when they reported for duty.

Re: Jury Duty

CoffeeNut — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 19:19:51 GMT

Re: Jury Duty

SleepyTime — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 17:18:22 GMT

I just had jury duty last month and clothing didn't seem to be an issue. I saw men in jeans and shirts and women in pants and a blouse. I would say it was between very casual and casual Friday. I don't think I saw any women in business suits. Maybe a one man in a suit who had to go to work afterward. Some people brought knitting, or Ipads, or computers. I saw magazines and books. No one got called that day which was nice. I was home by noon. All cases were settled. I was more stressed about it than need be.

Re: Jury Duty

PilatesLover — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 17:23:28 GMT

Dress in layers. The climate may vary between meat locker cold and sauna. Business casual is fine, dress for your comfort.

There will be guys there wearing work clothes and boots.

Re: Jury Duty

ALRATIBA — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 17:27:07 GMT

I think @SleepyTime's "casual Friday" is a good example. I can't recall exactly what I wore last time.

I'm "fortunate" ... I'm called every four years like clockwork. Last summer was a one week criminal trial.

Time before that ... a one month "tour of duty" on a federal grand jury. It was a one-month on-call basis so I only had to go in when they needed a grand jury. I think in the course of a month, I might have gone in about once or twice a week for a few hours.

Jury duty is "fun." I always get to meet people in the waiting room that I would not otherwise have crossed passed with.

Re: Jury Duty

momoftwo2007 — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 17:30:07 GMT

@CoffeeNut wrote:
I've been called for jury duty 4 times but have never been picked to sit on trial. Casual is fine. Dress for comfort. I've seen people dressed up like they are going to church and others in jeans and t-shirts. However, I would recommend taking a very light sweater or jacket. The ones I have attended they keep the air conditioning very low.

Agreeing with @CoffeeNut, dress for comfort and dress in layers. I would also recommend bring a good book. I've been called for Jury duty many times, and sometimes you end up sitting there waiting for the entire day.

Re: Jury Duty

Annabellethecat66 — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 17:44:35 GMT

I have had jury duty 3 times as has my late husband. I've also sat in on 2 trials. Nothing like murder, just one was a dog bite and the other well someone was accused of stealing.

It was a long time ago. I don't remember much about the rules. I live in Va. But it is true, I believe I read that each state is different.

Re: Jury Duty

blackhole99 — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 17:47:00 GMT

I have a permanent excuse from jury duty due to a medical condition, but I hated sitting for jury duty when I could do it. Many people complained and crumbled during jury selection. People would actually bring their Bible and carry it under their arm so the lawyers could see they were biased and hopefully not be chosen. People where I live are conservative and dress accordingly for jury duty.

Re: Jury Duty

Mz iMac — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 18:01:21 GMT

I must be the odd ball. I ❤️ jury duty. Call me a professional juror. I am called every year for either Petite Jury, Federal Jury or Grand Jury (my personal favorite.) Have never been called for Federal Grand Jury.

I always get picked for trial. I guess the lawyers & defendants love my answers to their questions.

In N.J. Grand Jury is 17 weeks. Depending on the ADAs, most feed you breakfast & lunch on their dime buffet style.

In N.J. Grand Jury is split 3 ways:

1 - white coller crimes

2 - murders

3 - drugs, boosting, rapes, burgeries & robberies

I always get picked for #3

Federal trials can last for weeks to months. Feds pick you up, drop you off & take you home. Love their front door service plus all their other perks.

Re: Jury Duty

qualitygal — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 18:10:25 GMT

I always thought (sometimes with a groan) that this was good to do. It ranked right up there with having the vote. Now that I'm retired, I guess they won't call at this age. Trust me, if they called me now, I'd go. I think retired people should go. They have the time and possibly some living and situations under their belts. Hopefully, they (we) have open minds.

Re: Jury Duty

beckyb1012 — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 18:12:01 GMT

I get called up every two years or so and the last time up I got out of there at 6:00 that night. Did not get picked for the final 12 in the murder trial but did make the semi round, so to speak. When I do not get sent to a specific court after the initial check in I am usually out by 10:30 to 11:00. Takes about 2.5 hours to check all jurors called and go through exemptions ect...... for serving. Then waiting to see who makes the next round.

I usually wear even a light jacket since air conditioning can be too much even in the heat of the summer.

Re: Jury Duty

Nightowlz — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 18:24:32 GMT

Last time they mailed me a jury notice I left the next morning for 2 wks in Fl. I threw it in the trash & never answered it. I was leaving so I left.

They don't want me on a jury. I'm not fair since I don't want to be there & would vote with the majority so I could get the hello out of there.

I could not do it if I wanted to. I have to pee too much. LOL!!! I'm sure the judge would not like it if I just got up & walked out to go to the bathroom.

Re: Jury Duty

SahmIam — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 18:34:36 GMT

I've been called every 3 years for decades. We call every time (as instructed) and I would say that more than half were cancelled. The other times, a few were the picking of a jury to hear a case THAT day. The majority were cases that would be heard on a different date. I've been on a jury where we were told up-front to expect it to take a month or so- I was already very pregnant so I was automatically excused due to have a c-section already scheduled.

When arriving to see if I was going to be picked, I wear a standard outfit: when in warm weather it's a t-shirt dress with a cardigan, slight heeled mules. In cold weather, it's slacks with heeled boots, a turtleneck and a silk scarf. Comfortable, classic and nice-casual. When I've served on the jury (to show on a different date), it's the dressier version of what I stated: summer is a summer dress with a jacket and pumps and winter is a winter skirt with 2 piece sweater set and pumps. I can't recall not hearing "dress appropriately as you will be in court" once we've been selected. Maybe it's where I live but the lawyers are in suits, most of the clients are in suits, witnesses are in suits/dressed nicely so wouldn't the jurors?

Re: Jury Duty

newjerseygirl — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 18:34:57 GMT

@SeaMaiden wrote:
So, I call tonight a phone number to see if I need to go in tomorrow, Wednesday for duty selection..... If I need to be there, it is at 8 AM. What should I wear? It is going to be about 78 degrees tomorrow. Can I wear sleeveless? I know T shirts are frowned upon... Maybe I will just wear my red hot pants and white GO GO boots....

I know nothing about the jury duty process.... first time. On average how long does the process take from arriving first day of jury duty picking... to knowing if you are let go or not?

I really hope I do not have to go at all... and if I do, that I am not picked. I am not Anti USA or anything, but, right now I have a lot on my plate... and a dog having major surgery coming up in just a week or so. I just do not need more distractions.

Hoping that that phone call I make tonight tells me I am not needed.

I have jury duty tomorrow also. I’ll make my call around 5:30 PM to hear if I have to go.

I was summoned 3 years ago, but when I called the night before, I didn’t have to go.

I think the courts are slow during the summer so I’m hoping they don’t need a big pool of jurors and I won’t have to go.

Re: Jury Duty

mercyMe — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 19:26:58 GMT

Casual dressing is required...but I have seen everything. Due to A.C., I always took a light sweater, tied around my neck. I was interviewed, but never chosen.

Most of the time, you will not be called to actually serve ... lawyers are looking to excuse those expressing bias toward their client, plus with the amount that are called to be interviewed, your % is low. But you could be there for up to five hours (for the selection process).

My DH was excused due to work schedule. If you tell them about your dog's surgery, this will certainly be a factor.

PS: And remember to turn off your cell phone ...my mother's "went-off" when she was in the jury box during an actual trial (I was so embarrassed for her~!)

Re: Jury Duty

Mz iMac — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 19:00:01 GMT

My jury gear are always jeams & sweatshirt no matter the season. Summer sneakers, winter combat boots. Court house is always freezing. Very little heat in the winter. Also, City Hall is smack dab in the middle of not so nice part of town. I dress to "blend in."

I always wear a wig & full makeup w/my jury tag turned around. The reason for this is because us jurors have to walk past the defendents family, friends, witnesses & everyone else who were summoned in order to get to the jury seats. I hate the way city hall has their court hallways set up. The building is a thousand yrs old.