Jury Duty 101: Tips For Getting Out or Serving - Get Advice On Excuses, Pay, Jury Selection, Trails and Laws in Federal, Superior and County Courts. Information From A Previous Juror

JURY DUTY 101: TIPS FOR GETTING OUT OR SERVING
"JUROR TO JUROR" ADVICE & INFORMATION
Jury Service Explained - What The Court Doesn't Tell You
Plain Language Advice For Potential Jurors... From A Juror Who's Served

Scroll down to see information on the following topics:
        Responding To The Summons
        Get Out Of Jury Duty - Excuses & Exemptions
        Calling In
        Reporting To The Courthouse
        Jury Orientation
        Questioning & Jury Selection
        Restrictions On Jurors
        Order Of Trial
        Observations-What You Learn From Jury Duty
        Jury Duty Pay, Compensation From Work
       Links To Busy Federal, Superior & State Courts
        Grand Jury Duty Information Links
        Links For Additional Jury Duty Information

The official envelope greets you from the inside your mailbox-"SUMMONS FOR JURY SERVICE."

'Great,' you think to yourself. 'Sometime soon my life is going to be interrupted by the strange processes of the justice system.' The summons leaves you with more question than answers. As an ordinary person, I understand. I've been there. To answer those many unanswered questions about jury duty, I took notes during my case and assembled them here.

There are a lot of official web sites maintained by the courts. This is an unoffical site written by a juror. Here you will find the information, insights and advice that the court don't give you.

Serving as a juror is an important responsibility, one that you should take seriously. It's an excellent opportunity to learn and to see the real life operations of a court. However, jury duty has its pitfalls. The information below will help you go into the process knowledgeably so you can better navigate this strange territory.

The jury selection process is fairly standard throughout the United States, so the experiences listed here will likely be similar to yours (regardless of where you live.)

NOTE: This site is for general information only. Always check the information on your specific summons and the specific requirements of the court to which you've ben summoned. Links to the nation's busiest courthouses are listed below. If your courthouse is not listed, simply do an internet search for your specific location.

RESPONDING TO THE SUMMONS
Jury duty starts when you receive your summons through the mail. You must complete a questionnaire sent along with the summons and return the questionnaire immediately through the mail. Questions may include:
        Are you a U.S. citizen?
        What is your age and birth date?
        Have you live in this county for the past year?
        Do you speak English?
        Are you charged with or been convicted of a felony?
        Do you have an disability that would interfere with your service as a juror?
        Do you hold elected public office?
        Are you a police officer or firefighter?
        Are you a member of the armed forces?
        What is your gender, education level and occupation?
The questionnaire may include a space for you to write comments. You may wish to write-in any commitments you have that would conflict with jury service, such as work/family responsibilities or conflicts of interest. Assume that your responses will be read by the judge and by attorneys for both sides. Your answers may be used to help select or reject you during the jury selection process.
The summons requires you to phone the court for a set period of time (usually two weeks.) At some point during those two weeks you will be required to go to the courthouse for jury selection.
After you report to the courthouse there is a specific process to weed-out some people and select others. Those people remaining after the jury selection process will be required to hear a case and render a verdict.

GETTING OUT OF JURY DUTY - EXCUSES IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO SERVE
After receiving your summons, you may determine that you are not in a position to serve and need to get out of jury duty. If you have a compelling reason, you can ask to get out of jury duty by writing the court. This may allow you to avoid the call-in process altogether. Exemptions for getting out of jury duty are generally given for the following reasons:
        You are over 70 years old.
        You are a volunteer firefighter, rescue squad member or ambulance crew member.
        You must care for young children or elderly adults, if your absence will put them at risk.
        You are so important to the operation of a business that your absence will cause that business to fail.
        You are an attorney, physician, dentist or registered nurse.
        You do not have a car and are unable to use public transportation.
Excuses are not given through the mail for general work or family care responsibilities. These problems will be considered during the jury selection process (after you actually report to the courthouse.)
There are also positions you can take that will help you in avoiding jury duty. Those jury duty excuses will be discussed below under "Jury Selection."
Some jurors have questioned whether a summons sent by standard first class mail actually carries legal weight. Unless a summons is sent via registered mail and signed for by the recipient, it's difficult for the government to prove that the summons was actually received. Remember that a summons is a command from the court that you appear. Disregarding a summons (no matter how it comes to you) is a crime. Click here to read How To Get Out Of Jury Duty, an article about ways to honestly avoid jury duty.

POSTPONEMENTS - DEFERMENTS - "TEMPORARY EXCUSE"
Instead of being excused, you can request (by writing the court) that your jury service be postponed. Deferments are common. You shouldn't feel bad about requesting a postponement if jury duty conflicts with your work load or travel schedule. The courts deal with such requests all the time. My work travel schedule required me to request two deferments. Of course the court didn't forget about me. After each temporary excuse was granted, I was summoned again three months later.

CALLING IN
Once you have responded to the jury duty summons, the court will consider you an active part of the jury pool. You will be expected to call in beginning on a specific date. A recorded message is left each night specifying the jurors who must report the following morning. The call-in period typically lasts two weeks. You will most likely not have to report to the courthouse each day. Some people are required to report on several different days. Other people never have to report to the courthouse at all. It all depends on the court's work load and "the luck of the draw."

REPORTING TO THE COURTHOUSE
If you have to report for jury duty, you will be required to show up at the courthouse early in the day (typically 8:00am.) This will be a break in your normal morning routine, so give yourself extra time to find the courthouse and a parking space. A map and parking information will generally be included in your summons. You may want to take the extra step of printing door-to-door directions from MapQuest, just for peace of mind. Leave an extra 5 minutes to pass through courthouse security. Court proceedings generally begin promptly, so it's best to plan to arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the time you are called. In court, there is no such thing as "fashionably late."

DRESS
People in the courtroom will be well dressed. Attorneys and defendants will be wearing business suits, skirts/jackets or other "semi formal" attire. Jury members will generally wear "business casual" clothing (polo shirts, kakis, pants, blouses.) Some jurors wear sport coats, suits and dresses. A letter with your summons should explain appropriate jury clothing for court.
Tip--Going to court is an unusual experience. You may feel more comfortable dressing "up" (more formally), at least for your first day at the courthouse. You will be making first impressions. The court will be assessing you. It helps to be well dressed.

COURTHOUSE SECURITY
When you arrive at the courthouse you may feel you've entered a different world. Security camera are everywhere around the courthouse. There may be a well guarded prisoner drop-off area. Officers will be poker-faced and well armed. You may see prisoner cell windows on the building. The courthouse architecture is formal, institutional and very serious. At the courthouse entrance there will be several armed officers. You will be asked to submit to airport-style security screening (walk through metal detectors, x-ray machines, detection wands, etc.) Many times laptop computers, cell phones, PDAs, pagers and Walkmans are not allowed in the courthouse. Of course weapons of any type are not permitted.

JURY ASSEMBLY ROOM
You will be asked to gather in the jury assembly room. It will be a large room that holds 50-100. There will be chairs and TV monitors. Coffee, water fountains and restrooms will likely be provided within the jury assembly room. Rooms for jurors are self-contained so jurors won't wander the halls and use the public facilities. This prevents juror interaction with witnesses, defendants and lawyers.

ROLL CALL
Roll call will start promptly. It's taken by a court employee who will be very straight and "official." You will be asked for your jury duty summons number and your name.

EXCUSES FROM SERVICE GIVEN DURING JURY SELECTION
Following roll call, the court employee may ask if anyone has a compelling problem that will keep them from serving. THIS IS THE BEST TIME FOR YOU TO GET OUT OF JURY DUTY. If you have a legitimate reason (such as work, travel, medical or family care responsibilities), you likely will be able to get out of jury duty at this time. People wanting excuses will be asked to come to the front. You will be questioned by the court employee. You will then either be allowed to avoid jury duty or told to return to your seat.
If you are excused, you will have to continue to phone-in for the remainder of the call-in period. You may be required to report again for jury selection.
If you are not excused, you may still have a chance to get out of jury duty during the jury selection process (see below.)

ORIENTATION
You will be given a brief orientation. It will likely consist of the "jury duty movie" - a videotape presentation covering general jury duty subjects. The jury duty movie will be followed by a verbal presentation addressing the specifics of your court.
Here are the items covered in videotaped overview orientation:

    > Juries have a Constitutional role in protecting people from the power of the government.

    > Jurors generally find the process interesting and enjoy the social interaction with other jurors.

    > Legal and technical issues will be fully explained by the court, so don't worry if you don't immediately know something about the case. You will be asked to draw on the instructions of the court and your own common sense when deciding a verdict.

    > There could be a lot of sitting around. The jury may be excused from the courtroom while legal matters are discussed between the attorneys and the judge. Bring a book to read.

    > The jury selection process is explained (see below.)

    > The order of trail is explained (see below.)

    > Jury restrictions are explained (see below.)

    > Listen and keep an open mind throughout the entire trial. Do not begin to decide the case until deliberations begin.

Here are the types of court specifics you may hear presented verbally:

    > Potential jurors are identified from voter registration or driver license records.

    > Your employment status is protected during jury service (your boss can't fire you because you're on jury duty.)

    > Failure to report may result in fines or jail time.

    > You may not be in court every day during a trail.

    > The hours you will be expected to be in court each day (typically 8-5pm.)

    > The length of average trials will be explained.

    > Lunch is one hour. There is no set time for lunch each day.

    > You can get a certificate of attendance each day if your employer requires it.

    > Electronic devices (computers, PDAs, walkmans, etc.) are not allowed in the courthouse. If you have a cell phone it must be set to "vibrate" ring mode.

    > Compensation: Federal court typically provides a stipend of $40 each day plus reimbursement for parking, tolls and mileage. State/county courts typically pay $6 each day plus parking.

JURY SELECTION
Once roll call, orientation and excuses are finished, the remaining group ("panel") is eligible for the jury selection process. You will be asked to line up in a specific order. You will be taken as a group to the courtroom and guided to a specific seat. A seating chart has been created so everyone in the courtroom will know who you are.
The judge will then offer a greeting and general instructions. The judge's instructions may take 30-45 minutes.
You will notice the courtroom has a high desk for the judge and a witness stand. There will be tables for the defense and the prosecution. The jury will be seated in a 14 seat "jury box." There are seats for 12 jurors (who will actually deliberate) and 2 alternates. In longer cases, more than two jurors will be selected. They will be seated on temporary chairs near the jury box. Note that a verdict can be rendered by a jury with fewer than 12 people on it.
A court reporter will be seated in the front of the courtroom near the judge. This person types a real time, verbatim transcription of the court proceedings using a stenographer's machine. A bailiff, an armed officer and other court officials may be present. The decor will be formal, generally with a lot of heavy wood and bad lighting.

QUESTIONING OF POTENTIAL JURORS - "VOIR DIRE"
Following the judge's initial welcome and instructions, questioning of jurors will begin. You may hear this process called "Voir Dire" (pronounced 'voy dare'.) Voir Dire means "to speak the truth."
You will be sworn to tell the truth and answer questions in open court. The questions are designed to reveal any conflicts of interest you may have in judging a specific case. For instance, if the case is about bank fraud, the court wants to make sure you're not a banker who is too biased to judge the case fairly. Expect questions about your employment, friendships and family relationships. You may also be asked if you have friends/family members in law enforcement. You will be asked standard questions about your belief in the jury system and if you can judge the case fairly.
Questions may be asked by attorneys or from a list of prepared questions presented to you by the judge. Expect some questions to be somewhat personal (such as "Have you been convicted of a crime? If so, specify" or "How is your credit history?")
Voir Dire is the last opportunity jurors have to tell the court they have an interest in getting out of jury duty.

FINAL DECISION - SEATING JURORS
Following questioning, the group of potential jurors will be excused for a break. During the break the judge will decide which jurors will be excused "for cause" (meaning they have a legitimate conflict in fairly hearing the case.)
Attorneys will also reject potential jurors using a limited number of "peremptory challenges." Peremptory challenges can be used against you for any reason. They are mostly used to eliminate jurors that either the defense or prosecution thinks will be too detrimental to their side.
Once the final list of jurors is determined, you will be asked to return to the courtroom. The names of the chosen will be called by the judge. Jurors will be carefully directed to a specific seat in the jury box. Several alternates will be chosen (longer cases require more alternates.) The people who were not selected as a juror or an alternate will be excused for the day (though they'll have to continue calling in each day for the remainder of the phone-in period.)

THE TRIAL BEGINS
The entire jury selection process could take half a day. You may feel as though you've you been through a lot during jury selection. You may be tired and ready to go home by midday. However, the trial will get underway immediately.
As soon as you are seated opening arguments will begin. In the remaining half day you will hear opening arguments where the prosecution and defense layout their strategies. Be sure to take extensive notes during opening arguments (they will be helpful later!) You may even get to hear witnesses on your first day. The first day will be a long one.

JUDGE'S WELCOME AND DIRECTIONS TO JURORS
Once seated, the judge will give advice and issue specific instructions related to the case. The judge's welcoming statement may include:

    > Yes, jury duty is an imposition. It interrupts your daily routine. It is hard to unhitch from your regular life. Your participation as a juror is important and appreciated.

    > The jury system is important because the framers of the U.S. Constitution wanted insure people were protected from the abuse of power by the government. This responsibility was left as a community responsibility, not delegated away to representatives (such as legislative power is delegated by you to representatives in Washington.)

    > The jury is the collective judge of the facts.

    > The court's Judge determines application of the law to insure a fair trail. He/she has tremendous power to do so.

    > The jury must determine if witnesses are telling the truth. Jurors are only to use credible, sincere and properly motivated testimony to determine the truth.

    > The jury's greatest power is to discount witness testimony it considers false.

    > Jury deliberations are a thrashing out of the case. Testimony is to be compared, and considered in light of the whole case.

    > The jury's job is easy to describe, but hard to do. Jurors must analyze witness and the evidence. Jurors must use their people judging skills.

    > At the end of the trail, the judge will instruct the jury on the principals of the law. The jury then takes those principals and applies them to the specific case.

    > The presumption of innocence (criminal trial) is taken very seriously. The person accused of the crime IS innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. This is a very high standard. The government has 100% of the burden to prove the accused is guilty. The accused has absolutely no responsibility to prove innocence. The presumption of innocence is so strong in America that we are even protected from testifying against ourselves (by the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution.)

    > If you have a reasonable doubt, you vote "not guilty." It's that simply. Call it like you see it and let the chips fall where they may.

    > The verdict must be agreed upon by every member of the jury.

    > Jurors may only consider evidence. IMPORTANT: Evidence comes from witnesses statements, not from lawyers questions. For instance, if a defense lawyer asks "Was Joe Smith sleeping with the defendant's wife?" and the answer is "no", you can not consider the possibility raised by the question. This can be tough work for a juror. Lawyers are always trying to confuse jurors by fielding "possibility" questions. If you aren't careful, you may remember the question and not the answer!

    > There will be sidebars where the judge and the attorneys meet outside of the jury's presence.

    > Jurors time is considered valuable, but matters of law must be addressed. (This means that the court only has limited opportunities to keep the trial moving along quickly. If a lawyer wants a sidebar, recess or to call another witness they are usually allowed to do so. All of this lawyering slows the pace of the trail and wastes the jury's time.)

    > Witnesses are prepared by lawyers. This is normal.

    > The judge will tell you when court begins and ends each day, when there are breaks and how much time is allowed for lunch.
In my case the trail began promptly at 9:30am each day. A fifteen minute mid-morning break was taken at 11am. Lunch was from 12:30m-1:45pm. A fifteen minute mid-afternoon break was taken at 3pm and court was dismissed promptly at 5pm. Juror could request a short bathroom break if necessary by giving a note to the bailiff, who would then hand it to the judge. Court would be held Monday through Thursday. There would be no proceedings on Fridays so the judge could handle other matters.

TAKING NOTES
Jurors are allowed to take notes during the trail. Many times the court will provide you with a notebook and pen. Here is what a judge may tell you about note taking (these were the instructions in my case):

    > Look witnesses in the eye and evaluate their body language. Determine the credibility of the witness. Don't become so caught up in taking notes that you aren't looking at what's happenings. Your first duty is to observe and evaluate the witnesses and evidence.

    > Limit notes to important points only. Write down the name of each witness and who they are. You might want to note a memorable quality about the witness to help you remember them during deliberations (notation such as "wearing red dress, speaks softly.")

    > Notes are for a memory aid only. They may not be relied upon for decision making. Decision making must be based only on your memory of the testimony. Notes do not have precedent over memory during deliberations.

    > Do not rely on the notes of other jurors.

    > All exhibits (evidence) will be present in the jury room during deliberations.

    > There may or may not be access to a transcript of testimony during deliberations.

    > Tip--You may want to bring your own notebook on the first day. Many times you will not be able to get a notebook from the court until the second day. Take extensive notes during opening arguments because it's the only time both sides will give you a clear picture of their strategies. Once testimony begins, it becomes very hard to "connect the dots" and understand what the lawyers are trying to prove. Throughout the trial I found myself frequently referring back to my notes from the first day.

    > Observation--I noticed that the lawyers checked to see which jurors were taking careful notes. This helps them "size you up." When you make a note, it means you think a point is important. It's interesting to watch other jurors to see when they make notes.

RESTRICTIONS ON JURORS
At the end of each day, the judge will issue specific directions to you. You will be told not to discuss the case with anyone, including parties involved with the trial, your family, your employer, the media and other jurors. You can not read or hear news stories about the case. You can not accept favors from anyone associated with the case.
You can not speak with the judge on your own. If you want to talk to the judge, you will have to pass him/her a note. The judge will then call all parties for the defense and prosecution together in the courtroom (without other jury members.) This is done so that no side feels the other is getting favoritism from the judge "behind their back."
Jurors may be issued "Juror" badges that must be worn in the courthouse. This clearly identifies you as a juror to security and to other court participants. The badges are cues to attorneys and witness not to discuss the case in your presence.
The ban on talking will likely put you in some socially uncomfortable situations. It's not uncommon to see attorneys, defendants and witnesses in the parking lot or elevator. They have been instructed not to talk with jurors. Expect some awkward moments. If someone is discussing the case in your presence, politely advise them that you are a juror and that discussing the case is not allowed.
No one involved in the case should approach you. If someone attempts to discuss the case with your or influence your opinion, do not speak with them and notify the judge immediately.
You can not do any research to become better informed about the case. You can not visit locations mentioned in the trial. You can not use the internet or public records to check into key people. You cannot call a friend to learn more about the general practices involved in the case or with the law.

JURY ROOM
Jurors will be asked to gather in the jury room. It is generally located adjacent to the courtroom and near the judge's chambers. A jury room is similar to a conference room. There will be a large table with several chairs. There may be attached bathrooms, a refrigerator and a coffee pot. Hot chocolate, tea and instant soup may be offered as a courtesy to jurors.
You may be asked to remain in the jury room at all times when you are not in court. This keeps you from wandering the hallways and using public restrooms that may be used by other people involved with the court (such as the defendant, witnesses or attorneys.)

ORDER OF TRIAL
After the jury is seated, the trial will be held as follows:
    OpenIng statements from both sides
    Prosecution (criminal trial) or Plaintiff (civil trial) calls witnesses and presents evidence to make its case
    Defense calls witnesses and presents evidence to disprove the prosecution's/plaintiff's case
    Rebuttal witnesses may be called to answer the claims made by defense witnesses
    Closing arguments from both sides
    Jury instruction by the judge
    Jury deliberation
    Jury verdict

OBSERVATIONS
For what they're worth, here are some general observations made during the course of my jury duty experience:

    > The jury receives great respect. The judge will ask everyone to stand up when the jury enters or leaves the courtroom. Sometimes jury rooms are nicer than those used by the rest of the courthouse staff. Accommodations are made for juror comfort.

    > The courtroom is designed around the jury. The jury is the architectural center of the courtroom. All lines of sight are done first with the jury in mind.

    > All communication is directed at the jury. On TV, you rarely see the jury. TV lawyers, witnesses and the judges get the most camera close-ups. In real life, the judge, witnesses and lawyers all play to the jury.

    > There is an obsession with fairness. The judge may make frequent references to fairness. He/she may go out of their way to explain the law, the rights of the accused and the burden on the prosecution to make its case. I came to have a great respect for the fairness of the process. I was pleased to live in a country where the jury system was in place and the government has to prove its allegations to a very high standard ("beyond a reasonable doubt.")

    > There is no respect for your time. While the judge may state that he/she recognizes the value of your time, the lawyers do not. The prosecution is under a lot of pressure to make its case. The defense attorneys are paid by the hour. There is no reason for either side to be efficient.

    > The judge has an incredible amount of power and control. Never do anything that shows disrespect for the judge, the judicial system or the officers guarding the court.

    > Judges are impressive. They tend to be very bright, alert to what is happening in court and always ready to make a ruling of law when the attorneys demand one.

    > There tend to be three types of judges:
                Defendant's judge (generally gives the advantage to the accused.)
                Plaintiff's judge (generally favors the prosecution or plaintiff.)
                People's judge (tends to make decisions based on the good of the community.)

    > The courthouse may seem like another planet when compared with the business world. Scheduled times for breaks, lunch and dismissal may be strictly enforced, regardless of who's on the witness stand or what's being said. Following procedure is done with no consideration for expense, participant's time, efficiency or common sense.

    > You are nothing more than a cog in the criminal justice system. Your unique background, education and experience mean no more than any other member of the jury. You have no say in whether you are selected to participate. You can not talk to anyone about the case. You can not ask questions in court, even if the lawyers fail to inquire about the obvious. You are assigned a number and treated like one.

    > The legal process can be confusing at times. I was most baffled by the Rules of Evidence. There is a specific way all evidence must be handled and introduced. This can create repetition and "red tape" during the trial. Ahead of the start of jury service, you may want to read a primer on basic evidentiary law or ask a lawyer friend about it. This will help you understand what's happening. Click here to read about the Rules Of Evidence.

    > Work pressures are felt strongly by jurors. If a case lasts more than a couple of days, you and your fellow jurors will feel a lot of pressure from your work responsibilities. You will have to work before and after court. You will have to call in during breaks. You will have to deal with skepticism from co-workers and your boss. Just because you're on jury duty doesn't mean you don't have to get your job done too.

    > Most jurors finish their experience with an "incomplete" feeling (unhappy ending?) Most prospective jurors never have the opportunity to hear a case and decide it. They may not be selected. They may be dismissed unilaterally by a "peremptory challenge." They may chosen as an alternate. The case my be decided by plea bargain after the trail begins. Jurors may fall ill during the case. Whatever the reason, most people called to jury duty do not get to participate in a trial from start to finish.

    > Jury service unfairly burdens working people. People older than 70 can be excused from jury service simply by checking a box on their summons (for no other reason than age.) This means that retirees with lots of time on their hands may be excused. Middle aged working people with job and family pressures will have to serve. It's one thing to be excused for legitimate medical reasons. It's another to be let go simply because of age. If a 70 year old has the mental capacity to drive, vote and pay taxes certainly he/she can be a juror. You'll notice too that people under the age of 30 aren't well represented.

    > Jury service unfairly burdens voters. Federal courts mail jury summons based exclusively on voter registration. (State and local courts may do the same, or also include drivers license registrations.) This means your neighbor who doesn't vote will not have to serve as a juror and you will.
        I suspect the court does this to "prescreen" people. After all, responsible people vote. However, it simply is not fair that the court commands voters to appear for jury service and gives a free pass to anyone who doesn't register. To me it's a disincentive to vote. The burden of jury service needs to be spread equitably.

    > Surprise-Jurors feel "predetermined": It was interesting to hear several jurors express a feeling that their selection had been "predetermined." They felt that both sides had identified them as strong possibilities prior to the jury selection process (using the questionnaire that came with the summons.) I wondered about this myself. Had someone identified me early on? It appears that where you live, what you do and how you present yourself are major factors in the decision.

    > Loss of routine and control: I value my daily routine. It allows me to automatically get life's drudgery completed without using much brain power. Jury duty disrupts your routine. Suddenly you're thinking more about how to get little things done.
        Also, you lose a certain amount of control when you are a jury. You must report to court, you must be there during certain hours, you can not talk to other people about the case, you cannot investigate the case, the legal process is unfamiliar and you can not ask questions in court.

    > Lies told on the stand: Despite being sworn to tell the truth, you likely will see witnesses tell lies on the stand. Witness may evade questions, try to mislead you or lie outright. A popular phrase witnesses like to use when evading questions is "I don't recall." Yeah right.
    Remember that your responsibility as a juror is to size-up the witness and determine if they are telling the truth. If you think a witness is lying, you may ignore what they say during deliberations.

    > When you're on a jury, you meet people with whom you may not normally interact. I find that in daily life exposes me to much of the same type of people. During jury duty I served with people from all kinds of backgrounds. This was interesting and gave me fresh perspectives on many things.

    > Your participation in jury duty allows you to make contacts with people in the court system. I spent time talking with the judge's deputy. I eventually asked him if I could bring my children to the courtroom after the case. He gladly offered to show us around the courthouse and set up a meeting with the judge. This kind of behind-the-scenes access can be a wonderful educational experience for the children.

    > Jurors take their job seriously. I was surprised that most people in the jury selection process appeared to take the responsibility seriously. Only a few people tried to get excused. Those that were excused appeared to have legitimate reasons.
        Following jury selection, we learned that our case would last several weeks. Constructive and professional juror attitudes continued throughout the case.

    > TIP: If you are assigned to a case, do an internet search to see if your judge has an internet site. The court may post a schedule. This information may include the expected length of your case. A schedule may also be posted in the clerk's office or on a bulletin board near the courtroom.

JURY DUTY PAY
COMPENSATION FROM THE COURTS, YOUR JOB
Courts generally compensate jurors with a stipend. Federal courts tend to pay the best (example: $40 per day), with state and local courts paying less (example: $5-$10 per day). You may also be eligible to receive compensation for parking, mileage and tolls.
Your job must be protected while you serve on jury duty. However, employer policies vary widely as to whether you will continue to be paid while on jury duty. Check with your employer prior to reporting for service... your compensation (or lack of a paycheck) may have an impact on whether you are selected to serve. Some employers will allow you to continue to receive full pay, others will deduct the court's compensation from your regular pay while other employers won't pay you while you are on jury duty.

FEDERAL JURY DUTY
Here is a useful link for people summoned to serve federal jury duty. Click here to see the federal jury duty information page called Understanding The Federal Courts.

STATE & FEDERAL JURY DUTY LINKS
Here are links to jury duty information at some of the nation's busiest courthouses:

San Francisco Jury Duty: California Superior Court, San Francisco County - SF Information From SFGOV.ORG
San Francisco Area Jury Duty: San Mateo County Jury Duty Information
San Francisco Jury Duty Problems: Article On Problems Finding Jurors In San Francisco

Santa Clara County Jury Duty: California Superior Court Jury Duty Information

Alameda County Jury Duty: Superior Court Of California, County Of Alameda Jury Duty Information

Los Angeles Jury Duty: Superior Court Of California, Los Angeles County. LA, CA Jury Duty Information

San Diego Jury Duty: San Diego Superior Court, San Diego County, State Of California
San Diego Jury Duty: California 4th District Court Of Appeals
San Diego Jury Duty Problems: Article On Problems Finding Jurors In San Diego, CA

New York Jury Duty: New York State Unified Courts, NYC & State Jury Duty Information From NY JUROR .COM
New York Jury Duty: New York Federal Court JuryDuty Information, New York City & White Plains

New Jersey Jury Duty: New Jersey State Court Jury Duty Information From NJ COURTS ONLINE .COM
New Jersey Jury Duty: New Jersey Federal Court JuryDuty Information (requires Adobe Acrobat reader)

Connecticut Jury Duty: Connecticut State Court Jury Duty Information

Massachusetts Jury Duty: The Massachusetts Jury Duty System Information Page
Massachusetts Jury Duty: Massachusetts Federal Jury Duty Information-Boston, Springfield & Worcester, MA

Texas Jury Duty: Texas Jury Duty Uniform Juror Handbook (requires Adobe Acrobat reader.)

Harris County Jury Duty: Complete guide To Harris County, Texas Jury Duty In Houston, TX

San Antonio Jury Duty: San Antonio Jury Duty Information, Federal Court In San Antonio, TX
San Antonio Jury Duty: San Antonio Jury Duty Information, Municipal Courts, City Of San Antonio, TX

Florida Jury Duty: Links To All Florida State & Federal Courts, Statewide Courthouse Locations & Information

Cook County Jury Duty: Circuit Court Of Cook County, State Of Illinois Jury Duty Information

GRAND JURY DUTY LINKS
Grand Jury Duty differs significantly from court jury duty. Click here to see links to information on Grand Jury Duty.

JURY DUTY LINKS - USEFUL JURY DUTY RESOURCES
How To Get Out Of Jury Duty (Honestly)
The Juror's Web Page
Jury Duty FAQ
Jury Duty Handbook
The American Jury System Explained
Do's & Don'ts For Jurors
Glossary Of Terms Used In Jury Duty
Courtroom Personnel Explained
Family-Friendly Jury Service & Legislation
Jury Duty Under The ADA - American's WIth Disabilities Act
Jury Nullification - How Juries Can Invalidate A Law
The Jury's Power Under The Law
Jury Duty Sites - Jury Nullification, Grand Jury, Sequestering A Jury
Fully Informed Jurors Association
Federal Jury Duty: Understanding The Federal Courts-Juror Service FAQ

CONTACT
Please feel free to be in touch with any questions, your jury duty tips or to suggest a link. Click here for contact information.

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