Etiquetteer just spent a day fulfilling a Perfectly Proper Civic Obligation, jury duty, for the first time in three years*. This helped crystallize Etiquetteer’s Three Ps of Jury Duty: Preparation, Punctuality, and Patience. You will need them all.
PREPARATION
Jurors receive a questionnaire in advance of information the court finds helpful in assigning jurors to cases. For instance, they want to know whether you’ve been part of the justice system before, and in what capacity, and whether or not you’ve served on a jury before, things like that. It really really helps to fill that out in advance and bring it with you . . . which Etiquetteer did not, which the court officer made Etiquetteer do before assigning a juror number. Besides which, Etiquetteer was not the only person who forgot this Important Item. Let’s just say it creates a bottleneck at the entrance to the jury pool, so it’s best to remember it.
To save time in the morning, since jurors must be inside the jury pool by 8:00 AM, lay out your clothes the night before. You’ll need to pass through a metal detector at the courthouse entrance, so be aware of how much metal you’re wearing or carrying. Gentlemen Who Love Cufflinks may wish to reconsider that shirt with French cuffs.
The reminder message sent by the court indicated that “jurors may bring cell phones and laptops, although most courts do not have wifi. You may also wish to bring reading material, snacks, a beverage, and cash for parking or food.” Since you have to bring all your belongings with you wherever you go in the courthouse, you may want to assess what you’ll really need and travel light.
PUNCTUALITY
The court is serious about jurors being in the jury pool by 8:00 AM, so know where you’re going, know how you’re getting there (and where you can park, if you’re driving), and give yourself time. The court officers also do their best to keep jurors informed about just what is going on elsewhere in the courthouse, over which they have no control, which brings Etiquetteer to . . .
PATIENCE
Most of jury duty is sitting around in a room waiting for Seemingly Indefinite Periods, whether that’s in the jury pool, a courtroom where a jury is being impaneled, or another courtroom where prospective jurors might be asked to wait. It can feel mind numbing, or end numbing depending your chair**. Really, bring a book that will engage you for some time, and you’ll endure with a bit more equanimity. “The wheels of Justice grind slow and fine”***, and your day(s) in the courthouse will be no different.
Etiquetteer was also touched to see small kindnesses among jurors, such as listening patiently to questions and concerns from other jurors who hadn’t served before. One gentleman held the door for a long line of jurors passing from one courtroom to another, earning the thanks of all. These small courtesies help to make jury service pass more pleasantly.
This time around Etiquetteer was released before being impaneled — Massachusetts has “one day/one trial” jury duty — but previous experience on juries proved that Patience is just as essential during a trial and jury deliberations.
Finally, the proceedings of a courtroom, the workings of Justice — these are important parts of civic life in a democracy, and Etiquetteer considers it Perfectly Proper to dress respectably to reflect that importance. Not everyone can manage a suit and tie, but surely we can do better than tights and sweatshirts.
Should you be summoned, Etiquetteer wishes you an edifying and Perfectly Proper jury duty.
The jury deliberates in Reefer Madness. (1936)
*In Massachusetts jurors may not be summoned earlier than three years after their last jury service. The court system managed to summon Etiquetteer three years and two months after last service.
**Etiquetteer is not a fan of the pews they have in the Suffolk County Courthouse.
***Who said this?! Etiquetteer cannot find the reference.