Jury Duty

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

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.

Lisa Y · ‎09-07-2014

@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!

CelticCrafter · ‎03-09-2010

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.

Carol Diane · ‎04-27-2015

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!

cerb · ‎03-09-2010

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.

CoffeeNut · ‎03-15-2010

SleepyTime · ‎08-11-2017

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.

PilatesLover · ‎08-20-2014

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.

ALRATIBA · ‎07-15-2016

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.

momoftwo2007 · ‎04-19-2015

@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.