BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan

Subject: BS: Question re jury duty in NYC
From: GUEST,Planning ahead
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 10:07 PM

I have to go to jury duty in a few weeks in Manhattan. The court website seems to suggest that you can't bring in a cell phone or various other electronics. Online blogs seems to suggest that you can bring these things.

The iPod isn't specifically mentioned, but I'm wondering if I can bring that, along with my cell phone. (I didn't own either the last time I served in 2001.)

Would anyone happen to know if I can bring these 2 items with me to court? (That is, to use in the general waiting room until I actually get called into a courtroom.) Thanks for any info.

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: Peace
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 10:11 PM

Have you considered calling the court?

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: Peace
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 10:13 PM

I found some sites whereon were words of advice. However, it seems from what I read that you'd be better off calling beforehand and finding out directly from them.

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: GUEST,Planning ahead
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 10:35 PM

I guess I was just assuming I wouldn't get a live person, just voicemail, and it wouldn't include this type of information.

But I could be wrong on both counts, so I will try giving them a call. Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 10:37 PM

Calling the court and getting a human who will actually talk to you in New York City might be two unrelated events.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: Peace
Date: 01 Apr 08 - 10:37 PM

Welcome. Most of the sites I looked at suggested that one 'call ahead'. However, it's heartwarming to know I'm not the only person who dislikes this automated voice stuff when what ya really want is a human with a brain. Best of luck to you.

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: Mrrzy
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 03:32 PM

My take is, it would be *rude* to take an Ipod. You are there to listen. Take a book for when they aren't talking to you, but don't block out the judge. They won't like it one little bit, and it is up to them to make the rules, not a rule-book. Take your cell phone and leave it on vibrate, and accept no calls that aren't from a bleeding youngster, not even to say "can I call you back" as I know you aren't allowed to *talk* on it in the courtroom, that is universal. But I would think you could play games and stuff, with no sound.

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: Peace
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 03:35 PM

Cell phones would be illegal inside a courtroom lest the owner take pictures. But, the fellow seems to want to know if he can have this stuff outside the courtroom but still in the court building.

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 03:52 PM

It all depends on where the prospective jurors are waiting. If it's outside the courtroom almost anything goes. If you're inside the courtroom you best be paying attention to everything being said.

I was once admonished while sitting on a jury for taking notes, my usual practice at meetings; the Judge thought that my notes might unduly influence the other jurors, and that we should only rely on our decaying memories.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: GUEST,Planning ahead
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 10:28 PM

Thanks for the comments everyone. The "fellow" is female, by the way!

Just to clarify, I wasn't thinking at all about using anything in the actual courtroom. I don't think it's allowed anyway, but I certainly would consider it my responsibility to listen to the judge, trial proceedings, etc. (I also was in a courtroom once where the judge specifically told us not to take notes.) In most courtrooms I've been in, we weren't even allowed to read the newspaper while waiting to be questioned as prospective jurors. (But I'm thinking perhaps I can get away with a peek at some song lyrics I want to memorize, if I put the paper in my bag and just look like I'm rummaging around for a cough drop or something!)

I was instead thinking about the time spent in the general waiting room, while waiting to be called into a courtroom, and that can be a considerable amount of time. People are allowed to read and talk in there, so in theory it seems using an iPod with headphones shouldn't be a problem. It may be a security issue, however? Interestingly, it does say that laptop computers are allowed. I haven't called yet, but if I get a definitive answer, I'll post it here. Thanks anyway for your interest.

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: Greg B
Date: 03 Apr 08 - 01:06 AM

"Very well, your honor, since I can't take notes and my memory fails
me, I have 'reasonable doubt' of my memory, so how about if we
just confirm my vote as a firm 'not guilty' now and save everyone
some time, because absent notes, that's what it's going to be?"

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: GUEST,Planning ahead
Date: 03 Apr 08 - 02:30 AM

Greg B - I just about always decide on "not guilty". I find the lawyers on both sides go more for over emotive theatrics than for objective evidence. Regardless of what my instinct tells me, if I'm trying to judge the case on the evidence presented, I just about always feel there wasn't enough real evidence to prove anything. So I always have reasonable doubts. Most of the time, I can phrase these doubts as very specific questions I would like to have the lawyers answer about the case. But of course, I can't ask them.

Despite the numerous times I've already been on jury duty, I 've so far only had to deliberate once. The other times, I was either the alternate, and dismissed when the case went to deliberation, or the case was settled out of court. On that one case, regarding Burglary in the 5th degree (Intent to burglarize, without being successful - he was caught in the act!) most of the jury felt the same way immediately (not enough real evidence) and the rest soon came around. We had a fairly short deliberation, and only found him guilty of trespassing, which he had admitted to already.

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 03 Apr 08 - 03:22 AM

You should, by all means, call the court with your questions. The usual practice is to indicate a phone number for the court bailiff, who handles the scheduling and "management" of the jury pool.

Many courts now do permit almost anything in the pool waiting areas, but security for things you must leave there if actually called into the court is extremely variable. Most will tell you that "the room will be secured" while you're away, but their idea of "secure" may differ from yours, and there invariably will be other prospective jurors there when you aren't, so ...

A few courts do provide "lockers" where you can deposit personal things that you need to leave unattended (but that may not "lock" unless you provide a padlock?). NYC may be a big enough system to have this rather progressive feature, but I would want authoritative confirmation that my stuff would be safe. Courts are, after all, populated with, and accessible to, quite a few criminals, some of whom may have been not yet disbarred caught.

For any case that might receive local news publicity, newspapers - and probably radios/TVs likely would be off limits to those in the jury pool, since opinionating often peaks at the time of jury selection.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: GUEST,Peace.
Date: 03 Apr 08 - 08:00 PM

My apologies to you, ma'am.

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: Sorcha
Date: 03 Apr 08 - 09:51 PM

It also partly depends on what kind of a day the Marshalls who are doing security at the building door are having.

I was called for duty in the Wyoming Federal court last spring. I was never actually chosen to serve (cops wife!) but most of the Federal Marshalls got to the point that they recognized me when I went through the screening and detector. It got to the point that I didn't even have to show my picture ID. On days when there was a relief Officer, tho, different story.

I used to have a real but DE PRIMED .38 cartridge on my key ring. NO powder either. The primer had been removed to attach the chain for the chain. (Ok, this was a family joke...I had been really really sick and was asking everybody if they had the 'bullet with my name on it' so the daughter got me one and had my name put on it).

All but ONE time I remembered to take it off and leave it in the car. Then I did the Oops. Tossed my keys in the bin for the Xray...and suddenly remembered the damn bullet...thank GOD there wasn't a newbie on duty that day. The Marshall just laughed and said, Well, it's obviously not too functional, but he kept my keys anyway.

Be safe and just take a book. I was also told that any item NOT approved 'could' be confiscated.

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: GUEST,Planning ahead
Date: 07 May 08 - 11:39 PM

Update - So, I had my jury service, and the answer to my question turns out to be - anything goes.

There were no restrictions on electronics, except that you couldn't use a camera phone to take pictures inside the court building. I had my cell phone with me, and people were using ipods, laptops, and various other electronics.

Jury service in Manhattan has been surprisingly streamlined since the last time I was on. They now release you after two days if you haven't been selected for a case. The first day I was there, all the cases were settled out of court early in the day, no jurors were ever called, and we sere dismissed at noon. The second day, I was called for voir dire in the morning, which was to be finished after lunch. But then the lawyers were called in to talk to the judge, and the case was settled out of court by mid afternoon. At that point there were no more cases, and all the jurors were discharged altogether.

Short and sweet!

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 08 May 08 - 12:28 AM

That's pretty good! I had a friend who was stuck down there for a long while write me what ended up being a 16-page letter on a yellow legal pad. He covered a lot of territory, including coming out (like no one knew he was gay?). Anyway, sometimes you can make good use of the time!

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Question re jury duty in Manhattan
From: GUEST,Planning ahead
Date: 08 May 08 - 02:19 AM

Several years ago, while on jury duty another time in pre ipod days, I had just purchased a 2 CD set of recordings of Michael Coleman, the great Irish fiddler. It came with an approximately 100 page booklet with the story of his life and music. I served so long that time, I was able to read the entire booklet during my jury service. (Of course, just during the times I was waiting around in between things!)

As for your friend, I guess he found the setting inspirational? (not!) I hope the legal pad was free, at least.