Jury Duty - Fairfax County (2013, lawyers, income)

[Forehead]

Who here has been called recently? I just got the summons for the first time in my life (made it 37 years) and want to know what to expect. My wife has been called multiple times, but that was when we lived in another county. She said it was boring, she sat around reading the whole time, and her group never got called.


The other thing was, she apparently had to keep calling every so often for a month to see if she was needed.


Does Fairfax operate the same way? The form seems to indicate that I only have to call once, and if they don't need me, I'm in the clear. I'd like to be able to give the office an idea of the commitment I may have to make. If I do have to go in, what is the dress code for jurors? Do I need to wear a tie as if going to work, or can I wear casual clothes?


Thanks

[Bigfoot424]

Go on their website and it should explain everything. You likely call the day before to find out.

[snatale1]

Originally Posted by Forehead

Who here has been called recently? I just got the summons for the first time in my life (made it 37 years) and want to know what to expect. My wife has been called multiple times, but that was when we lived in another county. She said it was boring, she sat around reading the whole time, and her group never got called.


The other thing was, she apparently had to keep calling every so often for a month to see if she was needed.


Does Fairfax operate the same way? The form seems to indicate that I only have to call once, and if they don't need me, I'm in the clear. I'd like to be able to give the office an idea of the commitment I may have to make. If I do have to go in, what is the dress code for jurors? Do I need to wear a tie as if going to work, or can I wear casual clothes?


Thanks

You can wear whatever you want. The call in thing is usually for standby jurors but it's been a while. You basically go in just to be there, and if a jury trial is selected then they start paneling it's kinda cool when they do though they bring you up to a court room and explain the case, ask whether you'd be biased or not, and then their lawyers will question you, I've gotten rejected every time! haha.

[Carlingtonian]

I have jury duty in late April. I'm looking forward to it. Always wanted to serve on one. I'm practicing saying "Guilty!" in the mirror extra-persuasively. :-)

Of course, if it's a traffic-related offense, everyone is innocent!

[Bigfoot424]

I've never understood why some want to shirk their civic responsibilities and try to escape jury duty. I've wanted to serve on one for years but due to my LE background I never make it into the door of the courthouse.

[boyd888]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

I've never understood why some want to shirk their civic responsibilities and try to escape jury duty. I've wanted to serve on one for years but due to my LE background I never make it into the door of the courthouse.

Not sure how common it actually is but employers in VA are not required to make up the difference in pay. I would imagine the majority of "requires a degree" type jobs do though.

Also for many jobs people don't want to involuntarily fall behind at work vs say setting up a vacation where you know you'll be gone. Also it's very boring.

[snatale1]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

I've never understood why some want to shirk their civic responsibilities and try to escape jury duty. I've wanted to serve on one for years but due to my LE background I never make it into the door of the courthouse.

The people they can't take it seriously are better off not serving for all of us.

[newgatedenizen]

Recent experience @ Fairfax. Website explains all very well. Check daily (for 1 week) to see if your group number is required to report. If so show up. Then basically wait around for trials to start and groups of potential jurors are taken to courtrooms. In my case my number was never selected to be seated. Sat around most of the day because we were not allowed to leave until every jury was completely seated. Several times they had come back and take a few more. Finally was let go mid-afternoon. I basically read a book for most of 6+ hours.

If you actually report to the courthouse you are considered to have served. If your group is not selected to report to the courthouse you are not considered to have served. Not really a big deal. Honestly, it was pretty boring.

Oh... most people dressed like they do for their own workplace I surmised. If professionals they dressed business or business casual. I wore jeans, comfortable shoes and polo shirt. It's Fairfax County so most people were well-dressed but there was a full gamut of attire.

[ICS67]

A couple of other points, based on my experience being called in Fairfax in 2010:

-- No cameras allowed, which these days means just about all modern cell phones. So dig out that old Motorola StarTac phone you bought in 2001 because it was the best way back then to pretend you were Captain Kirk calling the Enterprise.

-- The deputies and other courthouse staff were without exception very nice to the jury pool, and we got a good nuts and bolts briefing from a staffer.

-- Your honorarium ($30 a day back then, not sure if it's still the same) has to be reported as income on next year's taxes.

As others have said, unless you're selected for a trial (I wasn't) it's a waiting game.

[boyd888]

Originally Posted by ICS67

-- No cameras allowed, which these days means just about all modern cell phones. So dig out that old Motorola StarTac phone you bought in 2001 because it was the best way back then to pretend you were Captain Kirk calling the Enterprise.

They changed it in 2013 to allow portable electronic devices in the courthouse.

Portable Electronic Devices Now Allowed in County Courthouse*- Fairfax County, Virginia