What does one wear to jury duty?

[supernova]

Business attire? Business casual?

I haven't done it in so long that I'm not sure anymore. My office is sporty casual so I don't know if I should dress up compared to that or not.

[mikeytherat]

1. This should help

http://www.mikejasper.com/hits/hits5.htm

mikey_the_rat

[Heidi]

7. Mike Jasper's pretty funny.

Thanks for that link, m_t_r. :hi:

[supernova]

9. Thanks for the morning laugh

:D

Oh, and I got the penny loafers covered. :D

[ET Awful]

2. Anything you damn well please :P

Unless you're trying to get out of it, in which case I'd recommend a pink leotard and purple fishnet stockings, perhaps some Mickey Mouse ears and a glitter wand . . . .

:evilgrin:

(Note: The above attire was not my idea, just something I saw someone wearing on Haight Street in San Francisco back in '95 or so, not so unusual for the area until you think about the fact that the guy (I did say it was a guy right?) jumped on a huge freakin' Harley and rode away)

[LynneSin]

3. A tee-shirt with the following message in LARGE LETTERS

I BELIEVE IN THE DEATH PENALTY

That'll keep you out of the jury!

[supernova]

8. Ha. Here, the DA might love me

if I wore that! :D

[jmowreader]

15. Especially if you're hearing traffic offenses!

Let me tell you how to REALLY get out of jury duty if you're so inclined. And it won't require dressing up in a Viking helmet and singing arias from Wagner while you're waiting for selection to start.

Dress like the Republican CEO of a $400 million company. Wear your nicest suit, and if you don't have a nice suit and can afford one, go get one. Wear spitshined shoes. Get a serious, businesslike haircut. Groom yourself like you make $20 million a year. Wear a fragrance that says "power." Walk into the courtroom like you own the place and hold yourself like you're in charge of the proceedings. The defense will assume that not only have you prejudged their client and found her guilty, but you're going to sentence her to death even if she's up on a petit larceny charge. Your car will still be warm when you get back to it.

[Patiod]

20. Actually, the opposite kept me off a juicy capital case

When friends go off to jury duty, I tell them to keep in mind the 3 words that will get you booted off a capital case so fast your head will spin -- "I'm a Quaker"

Montgomery County served up one of the most interesting cases imaginable -- a teenager is sleeping with his aunt, and together they and his teenaged brother ax-murdered their uncle in order to get his millions (so that all 3 of them could spend it on drugs). Sex, drugs, murder, incest, what's not to like?

I was starting a new job that week, and the judge wouldn't let me off. Then I figured, "why am I arguing with this asshole? they aren't going to want me anyway."

Judge: "Miss Patiod, do you have any problem with imposing the death penalty?"
Me: "Judge, I'm a Quaker and.."
Prosecutor, leaping to his feet: "Judge I move to...."
Judge: "Miss Patiod, you are free to go."

Don't know if it would work outside the Philly area, where everyone involved might not automatically know that you don't want a Quaker on a death penalty case, but it certainly was effective in Norristown....

[Missy Vixen]

26. You go, girl

>Prosecutor, leaping to his feet: "Judge I move to...."<

Nobody jumped out of the chair the last time I was called for jury duty. I must be losing my touch ;-).

I would usually get disinvited when they found out DH volunteers for a local police force, his dad is a retired state trooper, we know lots of police officers and lawyers, bla bla bla.

Julie

[Patiod]

29. They did ask if I knew any of the lawyers or defendants

I was hoping to see a familiar face among the lawyers, but no luck with that!

[Missy Vixen]

35. I hate it when that happens

>I was hoping to see a familiar face among the lawyers, but no luck with that!<

Where are these people when you need to see them? :evilgrin:

Julie

[struggle4progress]

44. Just pretending to know them would probably work: just wave at ..

.. one of the people at the front of the court room and ask in a loud stage whisper if they want their socks sent back to them ...

[Patiod]

46. A guy in our theater group was a Fed court judge

Anytime one of us would get called for jury duty, he would point at us, and give the univerval thumb signal for "there's the door".

Never got called into his court, unfortunately, but plenty of my theater buddies did.

(True story: was working as a temp at a company with a horrible boss. Pretty young thing gets called for jury duty, and tells this same judge that the Boss laid down the law - she had better not be there for more than one day. She returns to work and says
"the judge was really upset, and gave me his home phone number and said I should call him if the Boss gives me any problems".
I said "let me guess - was this by any chance Judge Gawthrop? It was? Well, let me suggest you DON'T call Rob at home because he's a total wolf and will probably just ask you to his house for dinner." /can use name because he is now among the departed, and is sorely missed by those of us that could swap "Judge Gawthrop" stories for hours on end)

[MountainLaurel]

30. That's what gets my husband off

Every time. They ask him whether he knows any attorneys, and he responds "My father is a lawyer and my best friend is a federal defense attorney."

I've got jury duty in a couple weeks, so it should be interesting.

[SW FL Dem]

40. Hubby and I are both lawyers

He has been called for jury duty at least 10 times, so far I have avoided it. He has never been seated as a juror.

[RebelOne]

4. Business casual is fine.

I've been on jury duty 3 times, so I have a little experience.

[supernova]

10. Thank you, RebelOne

that's what I needed to hear.

[Heidi]

5. Thank you, supernova, for doing your part for justice!

I've always wanted jury duty, but was rejected because of my (former) profession. :(

As I understand it, casual (like clean jeans and a nice shirt/sweater, both in good repair) is acceptable. :thumbsup: You can always call the court clerk and ask what attire is acceptable in your area. Good luck! :thumbsup:

[supernova]

11. OK, it's the same

as I wear to work. So no biggie.

When I was decided what to wear last night, it occured to me that I don't have any formal business attire anymore.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. I wore a pair of dress pants and a sweater.

:hi: They didnt kick me out. Have fun. :)

[supernova]

12. That's what I got

Thanks, Mrs Grumpy!

[ucmike]

13. wear something comfortable, in my experience

i sat and sat and waited and waited and walked to courtrooms and back to the waiting room and back to the courtroom and stand in the hallway while the judge talks to the attorneys and back to the waiting room and back to the hallway and then to another courtroom and back into the hallway and back to the waiting room. never heard more than opening comments in about 20 cases i sat for. this went on for 5 days, then was dismissed on friday afternoon after a 3 hour break.

as far as trying to get out by acting out; in our county court they told us right up front that if we did anything deliberate to try to get out of jury duty the judge would hold you in contempt, and that if you had any personal feelings like rascism, pre-assumptions about guilt, etc., you were obligated as a reasonable person to listen to the facts and act accordingly and that personal beliefs were not enough to disqualify you.

[kick-ass-bob]

14. You can really wear whatever you want, for the most part.

Anything you personally would wear to leave your house would be appropriate.

I think I wore jeans and a collared shirt, because I wasn't sure if I'd be going to work that day.

[Loonman]

16. Business casual; shirt and tie

Judges don't like folks who look like scumbags.

[RetroLounge]

17. A thong and a tophat

RL

[Hugin]

22. Ahahahaha! Seconded!

Unless, one plans on actually serving on the jury.

[anarch]

18. I have this outfit I like to wear

I never get on any juries...don't know why. :shrug:

[TheBaldyMan]

43. A TNG Star Trek uniform

didn't stop that woman in the OJ trial.

[long_green]

19. Slacks and a jacket (no tie)

and a book; oh God, do you need a book.

[JVS]

21. Military fatigues, an eye-patch, trucker hat offering 5 cent moustacheride

[texas1928]

23. Clothes.

Lord.

[Hobarticus]

24. Scuba flippers. Nothing else.

Unless you actually wanted to do jury duty.

[WeRQ4U]

28. If one doesn't heed my suggestions in post #27, I must endorse this one.

Love it. They definitely wouldn't need to use the metal detector on you........I hope.

[Orangepeel]

25. Coat and tie

:rofl:

seriously, I just got a jury notice and it said that men should wear a coat and tie!

The last time I did jury duty, the only one wearing a tie was the defendant!

[WeRQ4U]

27. As someone who sees jury members on a regular basis, something respectful.

You don't have to wear a suit and tie to jury duty. In fact, I would suggest wearing something comfortable, considering there is a good chance you'll be sitting there for a while (whatever "comfortable" means to you). But don't come wearing clothes that you wouldn't wear to wash your car or paint the garage. It's an important duty you are performing for the legal system and for the parties invovled. The least you can do is look like you care. It bugs me when people come to jury duty looking like they just hopped off the tractor or wandered in from the oil fields. It's rude.

Again, I'm not saying that you need to go out and get dolled up for this...I know that some folks just can't afford it. But use common sense. You know?

[Pithlet]

31. It probably depends on where you are.

It was business casual when I was called. No shorts or jeans. They even sent one woman home for wearing capris, even though they looked dressy to me. The first day they didn't send anyone home, just told us what the dress code was, and from that point forward we had to comply.

[HEyHEY]

32. wear a suit

show respect for the institution

[datasuspect]

33. a toga

[Nutmegger]

34. My mother has been a few times

and wore a business casual sort of thing.

I've never been called to duty but would like to experience that. Really. Along with voting, it's one of the most important things we can do as citizens.

Good luck to you. :hi:

[SofaKingLiberal]

36. Something like this:

[SW FL Dem]

37. Do you want to be chosen to serve?

If so, business casual. If not, use your imagination.

[RagingInMiami]

38. A T-shirt that says "Legalize it"

[lavenderdiva]

39. like everyone else says: Business casual,

however I would like to add, COMFORTABLE business casual. Also, bring a book or something to read. One magazine won't last very long. Also bring change. If you want a coke or something, you will need change for the machines. Nowadays, you might bring an mp3 player. They usually have a TV in the jury room, but in my experience, its usually set to Fox 'News', or Judge Judy. aargh.

Having served on 3 juries, I know what I'm talking about. Just lucky I guess? Sarcasm 'on'.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

41. I talked to a fellow who on a previous jury duty.........

wore a t-shirt that said: "Hang 'em all....Let God sort it out."

This is a quick way to get the judge to decide you're in contempt of court!

:hi:

[struggle4progress]

42. I always dressed comfortably and slightly casually.

My experience has been that I sit there all day and then go home, so -- unless you're planning to pass the time by making new friends -- take something to keep yourself quietly busy: knitting or crosswords or War and Peace ...

[gristy]

45. I was happy to serve the one time I was asked, the trial was interesting,

and the other jurors and I had a good discussion in the deliberation room. They even voted to have me lead the discussion - I was only in my 20's at the time!

If you can spare the time, I recommend jury duty.

Attire? Business casual. For guys what I mean is dockers and a button-down and a sweater (since you never know what the temp will be).