speak as soon as possible.

In a federal drug trial I was chosen for a jury when I don't believe in the war on drugs. I was told there would be more than one opportunity to state reasons for not serving but it turned out there was only one. I waited for an appropriate moment that never came - but did ask for a side bar and got off the case.

The one time I went in for jury duty, I spent the entire time in the waiting room. Several groups were called, but I wasn't in any of them. Those of us who were left were thanked for coming and and sent home. So, bring a good book or some other means to keep yourself from dying of boredom if that happens to you.

in the middle '80s. I was finally called and was selected to serve on the jury, but fortunately, the defendant plea-bargained.

And then here in Atlanta, GA, I was summoned for jury duty, but after waiting for half a day, a jury was selected and I was free to go.

bring something to read, for sure.

Actually, the closest I ever got was having my panel called up for voir dire; sat in the courtroom while 4 or 5 other panels were questioned; but the jury was filled before my panel was called to the stand. I was glad, because it was criminal court and a first-degree murder case.

So I guess I'd say, there's a good chance you won't have to serve. But then again, you might.

Bring reading, crossword puzzles, knitting, whatever. (Do they let you bring knitting needles? Where I live, you can not bring a cell phone any longer into the courthouse ... except at one civil court.)

if you have business in the courthouse, you can bring them in. Police scanners are confiscated, though. I found this out back on May 3, when I was at the courthouse for some reason. I pointed, as gently as I could, to the guard operating the security station -- this was three weeks after the Boston Marathon bombings -- that cell phones could be used to commit far more mayhem than police scanners. He said that the guards didn't want people knowing what courtroom security was doing. Such knowledge could be used to spring a prisoner. I didn't get into the various scanner apps for cell phones.

But I made a mistake: apparently people called to jury duty MAY bring their phones (and laptops) if they present their summons at the checkpoint. However, they may bring them to the jury assembly room only, not to courtrooms.

That is the premise which is the foundation of our current legal system. That document took the power of conviction from the king, and gave it to a jury of the peers of the defendant.

You have the right to make up your own mind, not just by the narrow limits given to you by the judge, but by your own conscience, and your own values. You and your fellow jurors are empowered to find the defendant not guilty even if you believe he committed the act, because you believe the law is unjust, or unjustly applied. That theory goes back to St. Augustine who taught that an unjust law was no law.

If a civil case, consider that which is said, and what they hope you do, or do not infer from the testimony and evidence.

Nuff said,

When I got called for Jury Duty, they asked me what papers I read. When I said the WSJ, they told me I was excused.

When it come to online papers, I go through dozens of clippings a week from any number of papers. For actual paper papers, I read the Washington Post, New York Times, Washington Times, and The Wall Street Journal. The last three I snatch from a recycling bin, unread, one day old. I don't know why the office in my building has them come in and then throws them away unopened, but that's their decision. Before you gripe about the WaTimes, I look at their complaints about gay marriage. They also have an old car column on Fridays.

Thanks. Why reading the WSJ. should disqualify someone, I don't know.

Also, I watch Al Jazeera English and RT (Russia Today) over the air on local (DC-area) broadcaster MHz Networks.

http://www.mhznetworks.org/

I have a theory that trial lawyers like unintelligent, easily manipulated people on juries. A WSJ reader likely does not fit that mold. Alternatively, the case could have involved the news media, but that seems improbable to me.

So bring something to read or to occupy your time, but which you wouldn't be upset if it gets lost, since you won't be able to bring it into the courtroom when called.

A pad or writing materials aren't needed -- generally, jurors aren't allowed to take notes. That is what the court reporter does. If the jury needs testimony read back to them, that will be done from the records.

time drags even more slowly and it is hard to listen when your bladder is full

Dress in layers, as the temperature in the jury assembly room and court rooms are anybody's guess. If there's a website for jury duty, it will spell out what you can/can't bring. Often, there are vending machines, but you can take your own food to eat in the break area. Find out what the parking situation truly is, unless you live in a town where parking's not likely to be an issue.

you if they don't think your hobbies and interests will be helpful to their case. For some reason, I'm not a desirable juror, but that's fine because I don't have time anyway.

I never trusted them. I suppose that makes me extra suspicious.

It is not only your civic duty but its also a very interesting process to participate in. I've had it 6 times and served on trials each time (except the last which was a Federal Grand Jury), twice having been chosen as the Foreman of the Jury. I'd do it again tomorrow if called too,