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I have looked around on the internet but I have been unable to find any information about jury duty in Chicago let alone specifically at 2650 S. California Avenue (isn't that where the Cook County prison is?) The summons to appear lists a bunch of details and says "BRING CHANGE FOR THE VENDING MACHINES. PLEASE DRESS APPROPRIATELY, SHORTS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE." (emphasis theirs)
So, can Chicagoist help me? I have never done this before and I have never had a run-in with the law so I don't know what to expect. While I am pleased to do my civic duty I'd rather go in prepared. Is parking available? Is the vending machine food any good? And on top of it all I now have to pick something out to wear.
Thanks.
Ed
Dearest Ed,
We're thrilled to learn that you are pleased to do your civic duty! However, we are a bit dismayed that you were considering wearing shorts for such an occasion. Not only is it way past Labor Day, and you are presumably an Adult, it's just really, really cold out there. We like our readers' legs fully thawed.
But thanks for your letter. Judging from the confusion and misinformation we gathered from a casual poll of our friends, you are certainly not alone in your anxiety about this most important duty to your community (after voting, of course!) To answer your immediate questions: Cook County Courthouse and the prison are next door to each other, which must be convenient in some circumstances, we suppose, but shouldn't really have much to do with your visit. One friend assures us that parking is available at that site. We've also heard some compelling, if unsubstantiated, rumors regarding a truly awe-inspiring video that is shown to potential jurors. And our sources agree that the cuisine available in Cook County's vending machine "sucks hard". (Your mother asked us to remind you that VM foods are generally unhealthy and awful, so why not pack a nice samwich and lots of fresh fruits to snack on? There are loads of holiday cookies floating around, too, as a treat!) We were surprised that the summons would suggest bringing vending machine $$$ instead of suggesting that you pack "food." Perhaps the influence of Cheetos and Snickers help the lawyers see the true tendencies of the jury pool.
About your outfit. Hm... this connects to your general Jury Duty strategy. If you really want to do your civic duty, then dress like a responsible, trustworthy, and sensible person. (We don't actually know anyone like this, so are unable to describe how they dress, sorry!) But if you want to get out of the gig, then dress wildly inappropriately (ie, the shorts) just to see what happens. Of course, Chicagoist's got style, and we bet you do too, so we're sure you'll find something civic-minded and just-right. [Orange is the New Black, FYI]
Super-duper most importantly: BRING SOMETHING TO READ. We suggest at least four books and a handful of magazines (with articles, ahem!). Just don't make a bunch of noise, and if you're an I-pod user, keep the volume Low. Apparently most of the day (or days, depending on the caseload, and your luck, and the day of the week) is spent sitting on a bench in a room with many other people, unsure of what is about to happen. (Its like a CTA car, stopped on the tracks, with no announcement. Not a time to be without some quality reading.) We suggest borrowing books For Free from that other great civic institution: the Chicago Public Library. Write and tell us how it goes (and about that video!)! And thanks for doing your duty.
Got civic ants in your pants? Need some advice? Email Ask(at)Chicagoist(dot)com!
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I've been called twice since I've lived here in Chicago and for the most part I can describe my jury duty experience as many hours of boredom followed by about an hour of semi-interesting proceedures. You show up (yes parking is availible and free, at least when I went) you register and they show you a video and issue you a pool number. If your number gets called you go to a court-room with all the other people on your pool and wait some more. They'll put enough people in the jury box to fill it then the judge (with lawyers defendants and plantif present) will start asking questions to each juror, after a bit the lawyers get a shot at you and they go down the line until they've asked everyone in the box all the questions that they want. Then the Judge and Lawyers step out and decide who they want to keep and who they don't. The keepers stay and the others are replaced by people left in your pool. This proceedure is repeated until they have a full jury and then eveybody else in the pool is released. Illinois is on the one-day, one-trial system. That means that if you sit all day and you're pool isn't called then you're fee to go, if you are seated on a trial you serve until the end of that trial. As far as food goes, yeah they have vending machines, crackers, candy pop and the like. You can't leave while they have you there so if you get peckish or thirsty its vendo-land or suffer. You do released for an hour for lunch and you can go anywhere and get what you want inside or outside the building. I had a nice little lunch at a pub a couple blocks north (I think it was north) of that facility. As far as dress. Pretend its casual friday and you'll be fine. Bring plenty of reading material, a psp, portable DVD player, laptop, gameboy, a deck of cards, whatever you've got for entertainment cuz you just might have to sit in the holding area all day with really nothing to do. They will put on TV's for people but really, come on, daytime TV? Oh and at the end of the day, you get a check for $17.50 the state mandated daily compensation for you being good enough to do your civic duty.
I've been there quite a bit, and only want to point out that it is a jail, not a prison. thanks.
"Illinois is on the one-day, one-trial system."
Actually, that's Cook County. Other counties (such as Lake County, Ill.) may have you sitting and reading for a week.
It's funny that this letter gets printed today. I was supposed to report for jury selection TODAY, but they didn't call my name last night. If I weren't so busy for the holidays and slammed at work, I actually think I might like being on a jury (for a short trial).
Cool Michelle, thanks for pointing that out! I have to tell you, one day is plenty long enough...glad I live in cook co.
Depending on the judge, during the voir dire process, if you try to play up the "I'm biased against ___ group and could not be fair and impartial" angle in the hopes of getting booted out of the pool, the judge may become a real hardass and keep you in the pool just to spite you. I saw it happen on the trial I ended up sitting on.
Russell,
Thanks so much! Your info is great, and thanks to Michelle for the clarification.
solitare Probaly you should read this. solitare Hope this helps. See you next life
solitare Probaly you should read this. solitare Hope this helps. See you next life
You guys are the 26782 best, thanks so much for the help.
Your advice is generally pretty good, BUT... you cannot bring food into the 26th & Cal building, and you do go through metal detectors/x-rays -- they will confiscate. If you are selected as a juror, however, you will be provided food (breakfast, lunch, dinner) -- think grade school cafeteria (salisbury steak and the like) -- and can request special dietary needs (kosher, etc.). There is a full-service cafeteria in the office building and a quickie cafeteria in the court building, and a newsstand in the connecting lobby. You are also free to leave the building at lunch times/etc. to find food, although there isn't much around but Popeye's and a small mexican place that's actually pretty good.
Question I have Jury duty on the 10 of this month. But I have lost my paper that I was sent, who do I have to call to let them know I cant make it on that day do to work?
If you are on a jury, legally does the company that you work for have to pay you for the time that you are on a jury?
I too have just received a notice for jury duty. Mine is for district court at 219 s. dearborn. The notice i received states that i must call an 800 ph no every nite to get my instructions for the next day. If i am not used the next day, i can go about my usual activities for the day. but then i must call that night for the following day, and so on for 2 weeks. I have never heard of being basically on standby reserve for 2 weeks, has anyone had to do this?