How to Plan for Jury Duty

You just opened up a piece of mail saying that you must report for Jury Duty, and you've never been on a jury before. You have no idea what to expect, but already you are getting nervous and wondering: what about work!?, how long will I be there?, what can I do while I'm waiting?, should I dress comfortably or dressy?, am I allowed to bring anything with me? who will take care of my children?


Instead of remaining nervous until your court date, take the time to become familiar with the Jury Duty process, and then relax until it's your day to report. Here's how to plan for Jury Duty.

Gather Information Early
You are not the only one who is a bit intimidated to make a court appearance at Jury Duty; nervousness is a common feeling when receiving this type of notification. To make yourself feel more acquainted with the idea of going to the courthouse, why not call the phone number printed on your letter to inquire about parking, bus routes, directions, or whatever it is you are worried about. Then, make a practice run a few days before your court date to see exactly how long it  takes you to get there and park.

Prepare for Your Absence
Since Jury Duty is mandatory (unless you fit the requirements to opt out), you will have to ignore your scheduled life on your day of Jury Duty. All other responsabilities will need to be put aside for you to do your duty in court. That means that you will want to notify your boss a week or two ahead of time so he can plan on your absence at work. If you stay at home with your children, you will have to make other arrangements for them to stay with someone else that day (and possibly other days if you get on an extended case). Perhaps you bring and pick up your child to and from school each day; if so, you will have to find someone else who can do that. Whatever it is that you are responsible for on your assigned Jury Duty date will have to be handed off.