State of Illinois Circuit Court of Cook County

So there’s nothing for 26^th and California, so I’ll post this here, in regards to Jury Duty.
I always had this image of jury duty, where you sit a room with gray walls, filled with cigarette smoke and uncomfortable chairs, surrounded by various mutants and socially challenged individuals. Of course, this was the image my dad painted in my mind.
Quite the contrary is true.
I didn’t think it would take me two hours to get here from Rogers Park, but it did. Traffic was a mess, because streets were closed due to the marathon set up, so a lot of people were on Lake Shore Drive. Plus, I didn’t realize that 26^th didn’t run all the way through. Be aware of that. If you’re coming from LSD, take Cermak all the way to California.
Despite leaving early, I was a half an hour late, but I was only the second person there. Most people wandered in an hour to an hour and a half late, with no scolding or fines applied. They clearly knew something I didn’t. We were addressed by a staff member around 10:00, had lunch for 90 minutes at noon and were dismissed at 2:00… 2 ½ hours early.
I read a book, watched TV and worked on my zine. Plus, I got paid $ 17.20 for my time.
The room is comfortable, there’s windows, vending machines and the seats are plush theater seats. No complaints. Easiest day of work I’ve ever had.

I’m here to debunk the myth about jury duty.
Not thinking of a good enough way to skirt this summons, I went and performed my civic duty a couple weeks ago. I’d like to say all those horror stories about how awful it would be were false. Not only did I enjoy my experience here, I can’t wait until I get to do it again! (unfortunately, you have to wait a whole year before you’re possibly called back)
Like the other reviewer wrote, it’s set up so you’re only called that one day, and you sit in a giant room waiting to potentially be called to trial. So there’s a chance you’re entire service of jury duty is waiting in the giant room all day to be called, which is what happened to me. If you’re called, you go to another room where you’re questioned to see if you’re fit to be on the jury, and if you are, than by golly you might just be a juror!
Here are the things that made my experience sweet–
–woke up 2.5 hours later than normal (815am!) and still got there early
–20min. easy train ride
–watched the View and other various ABC soaps all day
–90 min. lunch, normally I only get 60
–did a week’s worth of RedEye crosswords and read a book
–Asian American Fest in the front of Daley Plaza! Lunch was Indian and Thai food on a beautiful day
–those of us left in the giant room got to leave early (245pm)
— $ 17.20 for sitting around all day, and I got paid by work also!
–a friendly staff that made the whole operation smooth and efficient, especially when dealing with such a large group
Can’t wait for the next summons! I think.

When you receive a Summons for jury duty in Cook County, the Daley Center is just one of the places you could end up. Criminal Court at 26^th and California and the court in Skokie just west of Old Orchard Mall are two other places where I’ve served. Daley, of course, is the most convenient, if you live in the city.
The system is set up so you are only called for the one day, and if you are not assigned to a case that day, you won’t need to return until the next time you are summoned. And you cannot be called back within a year of a service date. This was my fourth time in the 20 years of living here. I’ve been on two juries.
I have to say that considering everything you hear and read about government bureaucracy, these folks are pretty organized for processing large groups and getting jurors assigned and keeping everyone informed. Now for ambiance, you could do better. Think of being stuck in a large bus station or at O’Hare, with endless rows of seats, a TV where you can’t change the channel, and a big dully-​lit grey room with that nicotine-​stained florescent lighting. At least there are windows (so you can see outside to the sad, grey overcast November day!) A big communista PA system announces: «Panel 21, now calling Panel 21: please line up in two’s next to the entrance.»
Bring lot’s of reading materials or work to do. Otherwise, here are the offerings in their magazine rack: LTD commodities, Delicious Living, Edutopia, Conscious Choice, a SW Airlines magazine from 2008, Radiologic Technology. What, no Claims Adjuster monthly? I was thrilled to find a Consumer’s Report where I learned all about vacuums and the value of store brands vs, say Ragu.
You do get paid. $ 17.20 for the day. And for everyday you serve as a juror. Lunch (if you made it that far without being sent to a courtroom) is 1 ½ hours — woohoo! If you are one of those people who can sleep anywhere, and sitting up, this is also a good way to pass the time. Hours there are 9:30 — 4:30. And the same, basically, if and when you are on a jury, and assigned to a case.
While I would never recommend shirking your civic duty, and as a former trial consultant who always appreciated having a diverse group to choose from, if you have a hardship with serving, you can write a letter to that effect in response to your summons. And for what it’s worth, in my experience, when the court interviews jurors (called voir-​dire), I have never seen a judge or an attorney take a person who has A) made travel plans and has a travel ticket for the trial period or B) who is self-​employed. Otherwise, if you need out, I’d recommend whipping up a last-​minute personality disorder, or a major twitch.