Commuting to jury duty
 

Just received a summons and was wondering if any of you had any experiences about bringing bike stuff(helmet, tools, pump, etc.) into the courthouse.

In NYC they tell you not to bring anything in except perhaps a book. No cellphones, video games, iPods, or anything that will set off the metal detectors. Add to that the unfortunate fact that your bike might not be there waiting for you when you get out (this despite oodles of policemen constantly walking in and out of the courthouse) and it just kills the option for me.

Colorado just has to be better.

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The entrance cop at the metal detector will likely take the tools, but also likely would let you leave them at the entrance near the cop-entrance-area. Larimer County is pretty townie, not sure about El Paso (assumed).

In Indio California, I locked my bike to a solid object and the helmet to the bike. My tire levers and patch kit went in fine, but the guards required me to disassemble my Zefal HpX pump and then kept it up front till I exited. They were looking worried when it went through the X-Ray machine.

I didn't have any real problems till the last time I went to jury duty and was riding to work after being excused and someone hit me with a can of coke they threw as they passed me.

It would be worth it to give a call to the jury commissioner's office. I discovered after I arrived that they have a bike cage at the downtown Sacto courthouse. That allowed me to leave my helmet, pump, and tools on the bike.

I blogged it.
http://diabloscott.blogspot.com/search?q=jury


The security folks didn't raise an eyebrow at my helmet or anything, left my tool bag on the bike though. They didn't have any bike parking at all, I locked to a tree.

I'd call the courthouse and ask them if there is an area where you can securely lock your bike and store your stuff.

You might also want to check about what they consider proper attire. In some courtrooms, a judge will get pissed if you show up wearing grungy clothes.

What's the worst the judge can do for showing up in shorts? Kick you off the jury?

Put you in jail for contempt of court.

Full spandex kit seems like a sure way to get let off duty quickly.

GREAT IDEA; Give you a chance to think of the punishment being given to your peers//Kenneth

I rode to my jury duty in downtown Seattle. They had bike parking available in the municipal garage and didn't have any problem at all with me bringing my stuff through security. I didn't bring in my tools those days, but I brought my Panniers with me into the waiting area. No problem.

There's a dress code for jury duty? Wish I had known this before, I would have dressed in a gorilla costume .. anything to get out of duty!

If you live a car free lifestyle and that is how you live- maybe the judge will give you a special clothing allowance. ? That or make you wear an organge jump suit.?

I rode my bike to jury duty for several weeks when I was chosen to serve on a murder trial. I don't drive, so cycling was my only way of getting there. After the first couple days, the guards at the entrance knew me (I was pretty unusual, I guess) and didn't hassle me about the pump in my backpack. I locked my bike to a very secure railing at the front of the courthouse and never had a problem. The County Sheriff's office was located right next door and there were all kinds of LEO's around. I never worried about my bicycle.

As far as dress was concerned, I wore office attire (minus the tie) because I had to report to my regular job first (I was a gov't employee) each day and then cycle the five miles to the courthouse. So, outside of the backpack, I was dressed appropriately. There was a dress code in the courtroom - cycling shorts would not have been allowed.

I'm sure security folks at the courthouse will have "seen it all" and your cycling tools and helmet will not be the first they've dealt with. They may ask you to leave certain items with them if they can possibly be used as a weapon. Of course, your results may vary... I served at the San Bernardino County courthouse in Victorville, CA in the summer of 2003. Things may be different now.

By the way, I actually was the foreman on that jury - and we convicted the woman of 2nd degree murder in killing her husband. We deliberated for five days, and it was an intense, emotional and fascinating experience...

I loved it. Ours is downtown with bike rack posts right in front of the entrance. I also like biking in downtown. I didn't like the fact that there's no shower, though (there is at my work).

If I recall they asked me about my can of shaving cream, which I had forgotten was in there--of course, having no shower I didn't really need it there. I thought they might have a problem with the CO2 cartridges, but no problem.

No problems each time I have gone to jury duty or into a court house as a witness. Just make sure you do not have any knives or screw drivers in your tool kit.

As far as dress, you are probably more likely to get excused from jury duty if you wear a suit and tie. Lawyers prefer juries that are not too smart and are easy to manipulate.

People like you are the reason that the average person on a jury is an idiot.

I had no problems in New Orleans at the courthouse on Tulane and Broad. They x-rayed my bag, made me explain what a bike pump is, and let me through with no prob. I left the multi-tool at home. Made sure all bolts were tight before leaving the house.

I wore regular clothes. No problem carrying regular clothes in my shoulder bag on one day when it rained really hard. I just changed in the parking garage between a couple of cars so my wet rain gear wouldn't drip all over inside the courthouse.

As for locking the bike, I used a U-lock AND and a NY-chain and disk lock. Heavy, but my bike never got touched!

One item of note. I brought a book and two PB&Js as food is allowed in the Jury Pool area. NOT in a courtroom! One time I got called up early and still had a sandwich in my bag. Made me sweat a little, but nobody checked. Could get contempt for food in a courtroom, but I figured so long as I was not EATING in the courtroom, I was following the spirit of the law at least. I was NOT giving up my sandwich.

Really. I have a lot of friends that are very vocal about ways to get out of jury duty. I've asked them if they ever wind up on trial if THEY want to be tried by a bunch of people who are "retired, unemployed, or too stupid to get out of jury duty" as they put it.

We've got a pretty good judicial system, but it's hampered by people who aren't willing to put in their time to make the system work. Lots of people don't give a **** about anything that doesn't help them out, right now.

During the 80's, I would show up needing a shave, torn acid rock t shirt and
booze breath. Only spent half a day in the court house for some reason.
TV shows like L.A. law were a big hit then. Most everybody else wore suits
and were ready to mix it up.
Last 2 duties I"ve been the foreman. I've been to 2 different places so
far. Both 30 miles away. No bike.

Do you think a judge is going to reward you for pissing him/her off by giving you what you want?

lol...
You don't think lawyers know every trick in the book used to get out of jury duty? Who's really being outsmarting here... :roflmao2:

To the OP.. unless you live in Mayberry, most courthouses will accommodate your bike. Ask for a storage room. And for gawds sake bring some civvies.

Heh. Lawyers don't need a trick. The last thing a lawyer wants is another lawyer in the jury box.