Called for jury duty...

Virkati
Virkati Posts: 679 Member
edited November 13 in Health and Weight Loss
I am required to report for jury duty on Monday morning. I've never been called for or served jury duty, so for those of you who have...

How do I eat that day? How do I follow my plan? Can I bring my own food or do I have to purchase it from the courthouse or surrounding areas? If I can bring my own, is there normally a place that I can heat it or should it be food that doesn't have to be warmed? I know these might sound dumb, but I honestly don't know and I'd really like to stick to my plan as much as possible. Thanks :)

Replies

  • barbecuesauce
    barbecuesauce Posts: 1,771 Member
    It's going to vary depending on where you are, but you're allowed to bring food here. I don't know about microwaves (maybe you could try out one of those mason jar salads people flip out over on pinterest). I think you're going to have to email the jury commissioner's office for your questions, though.
  • galgenstrick
    galgenstrick Posts: 2,086 Member
    edited February 2015
    haha. I just got called for Jury duty as well. I've been called 6 times now!

    You basically sit in a room for a minimum of 4 hours. They'll usually give you a break around lunch time. It's very low activity so plan on doing a quick exercise session before you go in, or after you leave, or during the lunch break they give you. Definitely pack your own food. I suggest you bring a few pre-cooked meals in Tupperware. You can leave the building on the break they give you, and they will excuse you to go the the restroom, so you can probably run to your car and grab a bite to eat every couple hours. Don't count on there being microwaves or utensils.

    After waiting in the room there is a chance they will dismiss you if the judge hasn't made up his mind about something. There's also a chance that you'll sit in the room the entire day (8 hours) and they will make you come back the next day and do it again.

    The most likely scenario is that you'll wait for about 4-6 hours, then they'll take your group into to the court room. They'll tell you about the case, then ask if anyone has a reason to be excused from serving on the jury (financial hardship, in school, or you know the person or trial etc.) If you don't have a reasonable excuse, then they'll interview you one on one to see if you're a good fit for the jury.
  • Virkati
    Virkati Posts: 679 Member
    I can't. The office re-opens on Monday and that's the day I'm supposed to report. I had my fingers crossed that my number wouldn't be on the show up list, but it is. And I didn't even think about the food issue until a little while ago because I started thinking of what I would bring and realized I may not be able to bring it.
  • Virkati
    Virkati Posts: 679 Member
    galgenstrick wrote: »
    haha. I just got called for Jury duty as well. I've been called 6 times now!

    omg 6 times! This is my first and I'm 51. Took me my whole life and my biggest concern is my eating plan lol. Don't care about waiting, don't care what the trial may be, just want to be able to maintain my plan!
  • Tblackdogs
    Tblackdogs Posts: 325 Member
    Eat breakfast before you go. Bring some food to eat. They usually don't have microwaves or kitchens but they let you leave for a lunch break so you could eat in the waiting room or your car or outside if it is warm where you live. Don't over think it.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    Pack a lunch or investigate nearby food places so you can pre-log.
  • AllOutof_Bubblegum
    AllOutof_Bubblegum Posts: 3,646 Member
    They'll give you a lunch break, but prepare for the worst, in terms of food heating and prep. Bring something like a big chicken salad in a Tupperware with a plastic fork, dressing in a Ziploc on the side, some fruit, a hard-boiled egg, granola bars, whatever to keep you full while you're there.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    Most places have a fridge. Bring your food. Eat your way. Eat your snacks. Assume you;ll have a lunch. If not adjust as you can.
  • galgenstrick
    galgenstrick Posts: 2,086 Member
    Virkati wrote: »

    omg 6 times! This is my first and I'm 51. Took me my whole life and my biggest concern is my eating plan lol. Don't care about waiting, don't care what the trial may be, just want to be able to maintain my plan!

    You have no idea how lucky you are. 6 times, and I'm only 28! It's almost every year, no one else in my family gets called...

    Weigh out some bags of mixed nuts and raw vegetables to keep with you while you're waiting. You could do some dried fruit as well, just be careful not to get the kinds with added sugar. if it's not too hot where you are, then you could prepare some meals to keep in the car. If you're worried about foodborne illness, then bring a couple cans of beans and a can opener. Not the tastiest, but still healthy. If you have protein powder and a shaker cup bring that, and just add water whenever you need it.
  • healthygreek
    healthygreek Posts: 2,137 Member
    I was called for petit jury. We all sat around in a huge room and after 4 hours we were thanked and dismissed.
    If I had to serve there were plenty of different restaurants in the immediate area.
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
    Bring food or realize that stuff like this will happen throughout your life... you can't always prepare and be totally on point, so guesstimate. Unless you are currently eating in such a way that requires being at or right under your goals in order to gather proper data (e.g. I am eating right up to 2100 this week to double check whether the intake goal is too low for my weekly weight loss goals, as I lost 1lb last week and have up til now lost another lb when my goal is 0.5lbs/week), one "bad" day isn't going to do much. I've been in the position of not wanting to NOT log my own food before and it's much easier to simply roll with what you're given and not try to control everything. I've had friends on my friends list talk about not being comfortable eating things they didn't log or pre-log... do you want to be that way long-term? I prelogged a bunch of stuff today but then my dad sprung the idea of take out out of the blue, so I looked up what they had and logged what would fit my caloric and protein needs for today, and I'm right at my goal.

    But if your plan is so strict that it doesn't allow you to be flexible with regards to normal life situations, then you might want to re-evaluate that plan, whether that means changing what you're willing to eat or how you're willing to eat.
  • RobynMWilson
    RobynMWilson Posts: 1,540 Member
    I had jury duty for the FIFTH time last year and I felt like Andrew in "The Breakfast Club" pulling out all my food and my protein powder and shaker cup from a cooler...lol! I also found myself at nice spot at a table near a plug so I could work. I'm self employed so didn't wanna miss work that day.
  • Virkati
    Virkati Posts: 679 Member
    ana3067 wrote: »
    Bring food or realize that stuff like this will happen throughout your life... you can't always prepare and be totally on point, so guesstimate. Unless you are currently eating in such a way that requires being at or right under your goals in order to gather proper data (e.g. I am eating right up to 2100 this week to double check whether the intake goal is too low for my weekly weight loss goals, as I lost 1lb last week and have up til now lost another lb when my goal is 0.5lbs/week), one "bad" day isn't going to do much. I've been in the position of not wanting to NOT log my own food before and it's much easier to simply roll with what you're given and not try to control everything. I've had friends on my friends list talk about not being comfortable eating things they didn't log or pre-log... do you want to be that way long-term? I prelogged a bunch of stuff today but then my dad sprung the idea of take out out of the blue, so I looked up what they had and logged what would fit my caloric and protein needs for today, and I'm right at my goal.

    But if your plan is so strict that it doesn't allow you to be flexible with regards to normal life situations, then you might want to re-evaluate that plan, whether that means changing what you're willing to eat or how you're willing to eat.

    I'm completely at ease taking things as they come and being flexible. My questions were more about what is available, like microwaves, eating at surrounding eateries etc. I've never been on jury duty so I was trying to figure out how to adapt. And no, my plan is not so strict. I, on the other hand, like to plan ahead when possible. I would prefer to bring my own food if possible. I prefer to NOT spend money at a restaurant if I don't have to. And I promise you, that at 51, I DO realize stuff like this will happen...that's why I'm asking the questions. They've never happened to me before and I guessed, correctly, that it HAD happened to others. The advice I'm being given is wonderful, and I'm grateful :smile:
  • DKG28
    DKG28 Posts: 299 Member
    Don't over think. Brown bag it. Bring a couple extra snacks. Napkins, utensil if you need one. Assume no microwave or fridge, but almost anything will be okay until lunchtime unless you leave it sitting in the sun.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    Been called several times. Been dismissed every time. Honestly? It is more a waste of time than anything else.
  • haysavam
    haysavam Posts: 74 Member
    When I served they took a break for lunch. I left and got subway. The following day when it was all closed and stuff they ordered us pizza. Though I'm certain you could pack. They will have a fridge you could put it in.
  • galgenstrick
    galgenstrick Posts: 2,086 Member
    haysavam wrote: »
    When I served they took a break for lunch. I left and got subway. The following day when it was all closed and stuff they ordered us pizza. Though I'm certain you could pack. They will have a fridge you could put it in.

    They ordered you pizza?! I want to live in your county! They basically shackle me to a chair and stick me in a dark corner for 6 hours every time.
  • socalkay
    socalkay Posts: 746 Member
    Just don't pack a knife in your lunch. They tend to get very uptight about anything that can possibly be construed as a weapon in courthouses these days.
  • areallycoolstory
    areallycoolstory Posts: 1,680 Member
    Been called and actually served 4 times. Bring your own food. I'm pretty sure there won't be a microwave. I would bring stuff that neither needs to be kept cold or warmed up. And I might log a bunch of little snacks that day(s) rather than traditional meals. Fruit, cheese sticks, cheese sandwich without mayo, some sort of nutbutter sandwich, trail mix, nuts... things like that. Eat something that will stick to your ribs in the morning before leaving home.
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    socalkay wrote: »
    Just don't pack a knife in your lunch. They tend to get very uptight about anything that can possibly be construed as a weapon in courthouses these days.

    Pretty sure you can't bring metal forks either. I usually bring finger foods though so not 100% sure. Ive had to take certain things off keyrings (key chains) and out of my bag before though. They leave "confiscated" items with security usually. My reccomendation? Only bring minimal keys and minimal items that you absolutely need. Nothing extra. They can be pretty strict (depending on where you live or federal vs county).
  • areallycoolstory
    areallycoolstory Posts: 1,680 Member
    [/quote]

    I'm completely at ease taking things as they come and being flexible. My questions were more about what is available, like microwaves, eating at surrounding eateries etc. I've never been on jury duty so I was trying to figure out how to adapt. And no, my plan is not so strict. I, on the other hand, like to plan ahead when possible. I would prefer to bring my own food if possible. I prefer to NOT spend money at a restaurant if I don't have to. And I promise you, that at 51, I DO realize stuff like this will happen...that's why I'm asking the questions. They've never happened to me before and I guessed, correctly, that it HAD happened to others. The advice I'm being given is wonderful, and I'm grateful :smile: [/quote]

    Sorry for the double post. I just noticed this. There will be a cafeteria. And they will pay for it if you actually wind up serving. You get a food voucher. When I served for multiple days, they also provided bagels and coffee in the jury room each morning.
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
    Virkati wrote: »
    ana3067 wrote: »
    Bring food or realize that stuff like this will happen throughout your life... you can't always prepare and be totally on point, so guesstimate. Unless you are currently eating in such a way that requires being at or right under your goals in order to gather proper data (e.g. I am eating right up to 2100 this week to double check whether the intake goal is too low for my weekly weight loss goals, as I lost 1lb last week and have up til now lost another lb when my goal is 0.5lbs/week), one "bad" day isn't going to do much. I've been in the position of not wanting to NOT log my own food before and it's much easier to simply roll with what you're given and not try to control everything. I've had friends on my friends list talk about not being comfortable eating things they didn't log or pre-log... do you want to be that way long-term? I prelogged a bunch of stuff today but then my dad sprung the idea of take out out of the blue, so I looked up what they had and logged what would fit my caloric and protein needs for today, and I'm right at my goal.

    But if your plan is so strict that it doesn't allow you to be flexible with regards to normal life situations, then you might want to re-evaluate that plan, whether that means changing what you're willing to eat or how you're willing to eat.

    I'm completely at ease taking things as they come and being flexible. My questions were more about what is available, like microwaves, eating at surrounding eateries etc. I've never been on jury duty so I was trying to figure out how to adapt. And no, my plan is not so strict. I, on the other hand, like to plan ahead when possible. I would prefer to bring my own food if possible. I prefer to NOT spend money at a restaurant if I don't have to. And I promise you, that at 51, I DO realize stuff like this will happen...that's why I'm asking the questions. They've never happened to me before and I guessed, correctly, that it HAD happened to others. The advice I'm being given is wonderful, and I'm grateful :smile:

    Then if your concerns are strictly functional, just bring food that doesn't require any of those things. I bring a lunch with me every day to university, which I keep in my lunch box. I pretty much never heat it up.

  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    I had a nice lunch and snacks all packed last time I got called - and then they told us we couldn't bring any food or drinks in, not even water! So I put it all back in my car, but hey, more steps going back to the parking garage a couple of times.

    After that first day, I packed a small cool chest and kept it in the truck, and got myself a water bottle from the courthouse cafeteria - it was like airport protocol - we could buy water once we got through security. :stuck_out_tongue:
  • lemon629
    lemon629 Posts: 501 Member
    edited February 2015
    You need to ask people who have had jury duty at that particular court. Asking people here is not going to give you the information you want.

    I have been called to jury duty at three different courts. One had a cafeteria and vending machines, one had no vending machines but lots of restaurants right outside the courthouse (small town with a traditional town square), and one had only a few vending machines and no other options for miles.

    I have never been to a courthouse where microwaves and refrigerators were available to the people called for duty. I'm sure if chosen to serve, there are microwaves and refrigerators available, but not for the hundreds called to report.

    Unless you know someone who has been called for jury duty to that particular court (not a different court in the same city-- options might be very different. Two of the courts I described above are in the same city.) and can give you accurate information, assume no cafeteria, no microwave, and no refrigerator. Bring portable things that aren't terribly heat sensitive, like hard boiled eggs, nuts, fruit, sandwich without mayo, or maybe a salad in one of those shaker things.
  • veganbaum
    veganbaum Posts: 1,865 Member
    edited February 2015
    lemon629 wrote: »
    You need to ask people who have had jury duty at that particular court. Asking people here is not going to give you the information you want.

    I have been called to jury duty at three different courts. One had a cafeteria and vending machines, one had no vending machines but lots of restaurants right outside the courthouse (small town with a traditional town square), and one had only a few vending machines and no other options for miles.

    I have never been to a courthouse where microwaves and refrigerators were available to the people called for duty. I'm sure if chosen to serve, there are microwaves and refrigerators available, but not for the hundreds called to report.

    Unless you know someone who has been called for jury duty to that particular court (not a different court in the same city-- options might be very different. Two of the courts I described above are in the same city.) and can give you accurate information, assume no cafeteria, no microwave, and no refrigerator. Bring portable things that aren't terribly heat sensitive, like hard boiled eggs, nuts, fruit, sandwich without mayo, or maybe a salad in one of those shaker things.

    This is the best advice. Courts vary dramatically. Some won't allow any food or even water. Some will. If you're just called as part of the jury pool, it's highly unlikely you'll have access to a fridge or anything else. If you're actually chosen to serve on a jury, you may have access to things like a fridge and microwave, and they may even buy you lunch. But that may come only with cases in the higher courts, and not lower courts, or not! You'll just have to find out when you go.

    In the biggest city in my state, a lot of people are called, but not all serve. Many are released before lunch time. I work in an area that comprises three counties with small courthouses. One of them doesn't even have a courthouse big enough for a jury and they have to go someplace else if there's a trial. So be prepared to leave any food you bring in your vehicle.
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    I was chosen once for a drunk driving case that lasted one day.
    We had two meals provided: lunch we ate in a cafeteria with each other and a guard watching that we did not wander off or talk to anyone.
    The late meal (5:30-6-ish) was after the cafeteria closed so we placed sandwich orders and the representative from the court brought the food to us in the room to eat while we talked/deliberated.
  • Dnarules
    Dnarules Posts: 2,081 Member
    lemon629 wrote: »
    You need to ask people who have had jury duty at that particular court. Asking people here is not going to give you the information you want.

    I have been called to jury duty at three different courts. One had a cafeteria and vending machines, one had no vending machines but lots of restaurants right outside the courthouse (small town with a traditional town square), and one had only a few vending machines and no other options for miles.

    I have never been to a courthouse where microwaves and refrigerators were available to the people called for duty. I'm sure if chosen to serve, there are microwaves and refrigerators available, but not for the hundreds called to report.

    Unless you know someone who has been called for jury duty to that particular court (not a different court in the same city-- options might be very different. Two of the courts I described above are in the same city.) and can give you accurate information, assume no cafeteria, no microwave, and no refrigerator. Bring portable things that aren't terribly heat sensitive, like hard boiled eggs, nuts, fruit, sandwich without mayo, or maybe a salad in one of those shaker things.

    I agree it may be best to ask about the particular court. A couple of people in this thread have mentioned a cafeteria, and I promise you there was no cafeteria when I served :).

    I do agree with may posters that taking a lunch that doesn't require refrigeration or heating may be your best best. When I went, I took a pbj and a banana. But I ended up at a hot dog stand :).


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