Cook County jury duty how-to...

OK, so you might miss some work or you may have to have someone else watch your kids...here's a breakdown of my first jury duty experience. A few weeks back I received what’s called a ‘Standby Jury’ notice.  This means that you may or may not be serving on a jury. I also learned that getting picked to even come in is like the lottery. My new last name starts with a ‘B’, the old last name started with an ‘S’.  Just my luck, Cook County sent the summons under my old last name, which put me in the lottery of jury folks between letters G and T to show up. I thought about calling and postponing my time a few months, but figured, I was called to perform my citizen’s duty, so let’s just do it.

The particular court I had to report to was Criminal Court, 26th and California – not the best location when it comes to easy public transit. Michael drove me here this morning and I’ll be taking two buses back home. Then again, I shouldn’t complain. I still have transport to take me home, but I’m not in the most ‘luminous’ part of the city. I love my protective husband, but he forgets that I lived in the city sans him for 7 years?.

9:30 am is reporting time. You walk in and practice the same procedure as the airport – bags are checked, you walk through a metal detector, etc.  They do separate men from women in two lines, which I thought was kinda funny.  I was tempted to take some pictures with my iPhone, but I remember a time when I took a picture inside the lobby of the Fed building downtown and got a talking to.

After buying a gritty coffee for $.75 at the court’s Snack Shop, I made my way to the elevators.  It was an odd scene, but a real one. A mix of young lawyers holding stacks of binders, mixed with defendants waiting to tell their side of the story. One gal, who I’m thinking must have been an attorney was in a rush. She must have hit that elevator ‘up’ button 20 times before I was this close to saying, ‘It isn’t going to come sooner, sister’.

Up to the reporting room we went. You stand in a line and hand over the Jury Sheet you received in the mail, filled out with honest answers. This questionnaire includes things like: has someone in your immediate family been convicted of crime, were you the victim of a crime, has someone in your family been party to a suit, etc. You hand this sheet over to the Room Check Person, get a Juror Sticker and a Group Number. Mine is 17 so I have no idea how these numbers determine when you get called in and questioned.  From there, you can handed an information sheet, which includes your pay of $17.20.

Next, we watched an old how-to video, hosted by NBC’s Lester Holt. I couldn’t help but to chuckle when he came on because he had a full mustache and thick hair.  After the video, a gentleman ran through the ins and outs of the day. I must say, I was impressed. He understood the need for us to work, use our cell phones, etc. This particular court calls on the most jurors in the County, 1,000 per week. Because of the high influx of jurors, we are allowed to keep our cell phones on silent/vibrate while waiting for our time in the court room.  We also received a rundown of lunch options…vending machines, the cafeteria, nearby Popeye’s Chicken or other small restaurant around the corner.

May sit all day and not get called, ends at 4:30, those are those rare times when things get extended and there is a delay.

At close to noon, I was called in, Panel 17.

We went up one set of elevators, crossed the lobby, then went up another set of elevators to our court room.  Of course, as luck would have it, all court rooms were full so they had us standing out in the lobby.  The judge came out and told us some ‘fun’ news. We were to come back at 2 pm to begin the juror selection process. They were going to pick 14 people out of 45 to serve on the jury that, we were told, would begin the same day. He ended the news by saying ‘Don’t worry, if you are here until 7, so will I’. He also made us feel guilty about second guessing our civic duty of serving. No, I don’t mind serving, but I do mind if y’all weren’t organized enough to have us seating and observed when you said you would…and count your courtrooms to make sure you don’t have 45 people standing in the hallway lined up 2x2.

The slip we all received in the mail said that the latest we will stay is 4:30 pm.  Look, I’m all about serving my city, but when you work for yourself and having meetings in the evening, that sort of news isn’t so fun.  I kept my spirits up and got some fresh air for lunch.  I wasn’t too keen on going to Popeye’s for food, but I did spot some lunch trucks in front of the courthouse. My mind went back to the days when my dad had his business and I worked for him one summer. The same lunch lady was always there making small talk with everyone. Ah, the days of cleaning tools! ?

I’m a big fan of Fontana’s subs (it’s something about the bread, hard, but chewy at the same time) and their truck was beckoning me to buy a turkey and provolone sandwich. There are other trucks parked in front of Criminal Court so you have your choice of lunch picks.  I settled on into a nice stoop/rock thingamajig and began my meal. I decided to splurge and dip into my bag of Cheetos when I noticed a fellow, I’m assuming, juror, watching me as I ate. OK, nothing wrong with a little sneaky sneaky by men and women, but come ON. This guy was creepy.

I had big shades on so I know he couldn’t see where my eyes were darting. I looked to my right a few times and clear as day, this guy was propped forward eating his sub and chomping away while looking directly at me. I had a random thought of irony…I’m sitting in front of a courthouse surrounded by cop and attorney types and meanwhile, I got ‘Joe Blow Stalker’ dude looking like I’m his dessert. Terrific.

I snapped a photo of Leary Man and continued with lunch.  I checked in with Michael, called my post 4 pm appointments and mentioned my possible tardiness, then made my way back into the courthouse. From there I headed back to the Juror Room and told my fellow Jury brethren of my fate. They all seemed happy that my group had to be back at 2 because that meant their groups may not be called. I quickly became the most popular person in the corner of the room.
With that, I found a plug, charged my iPhone and added juice to my Powerbook. Hey, when you’re always on the move like me, I need all tools to be working 100% of the time and at full capacity. I sometimes remind myself of one of those traveling Medicine Men from the 1800s  - the kind of guys that were on ‘Little House on the Prairie’. Open my Timbuk2 bag and it’s like a bag of tricks. It was time to leave my perch and head back up to Room 703. On one hand, I was hoping to get sent home early and on the other hand, I was curious to see what the rest of the process was. After all, I’m documenting the whole day for you fine people and I need as much information as possible?. 

We came back to the courtroom at precisely 2 pm. The moans and groans of my peers got annoying. Yes, we all have jobs. Some of us have families. Yes, it’s nice outside. I get it. At the same time, some person in the County needs 12 people to help facilitate their case.  There was a 30 minute delay in starting our part of the jury selection. I was pretty antsy. Will I be picked? Will this trial go late into the evening?  Was Al Capone in this room?  The lawyers shuffled in with stacks of papers and went back to what I’m assuming were the judge’s chambers. More sighs ensued and a couple of folks were scheming on just the right answers to provide to get them out of serving.

Then it happened.

The judge appeared, sat down and told us we were dismissed. Huh? I had my mind ready to sit on a jury, hear a case and see what the defendant was accused of. Instead, we were told to collect our checks for $17.20, along with our certificates, and go home.  With that, I officially served my duty and was home in time to enjoy the sun.

Jury Duty Tips:

• Bring something to read or bring some work
• Bring some almonds or an energy bar of sorts
• Bring patience
• Bring a light sweater or shawl (that jury room was chilly at times)

…and lastly
Bring the knowledge that you are doing a ‘good thing’ and even if you miss work, are practicing the civil rights many folks in the world don’t have – a trial by their peers.

By the way, read this note about the latest scam via phone: Jury Duty Scam.

 

 

Topics: politics , civic duties