Jury Duty: The End

So, I finished my Jury Duty, with an extra day added on.

It wasn't actually that bad, I mean, sure, there was a lot of waiting around, but with a couple of other people to talk to, and a pack of cards, the time flew by. Even when you get onto a case, the time sort of flies by.

So, I'm going to drop a couple of tips for anyone else who finds themselves being summoned for Jury Duty -
1) Have something to do
You will be waiting around, alot. A book, pack of cards, handheld console, phone. Anything so your not bored
2) Go out for lunch:
We had a cafe attached to the jury reception, but it was very expensive, even with £5.71 loaded onto our cards every day, it didnt roll over and the cafe was overpriced. Best of all, even if you don't use that money on your card, you can claim it anyway.
3) Make Friends:
Same as number 1, its something to do.
4) DON'T volunteer to be foreperson of the jury:
As foreperson, not only do you have to stand up infront of the court to give the verdict, which in itself is a bit of a clusterfuck if you don't have a unanimous verdict, but you have to moderate the discussions in the deliberation room.
5) Listen to the announcements:
Stop everything and listen, your name could be called up, and you get a list of all the cases going that day.
6) Don't think its over for that day:
There is a list called the 'Floating List' these are cases that haven't been assigned to a court room, even if the main cases are done for the day, its possible you will be called up for one of them.
7) Take some food:
If you know your going to be in the deliberation room over lunch, take something to eat as its up to the judge if your allowed out for lunch or not, they will take a sandwich order, but its from the overpriced cafe and comes off your card.
8) Keep any bus or train tickets:
You can claim your travel expenses back, get a weekly ticket and claim it back, they might ask for a copy of it, but don't worry about it.
9) Look interested, take notes and always look at the evidence:
When you do finally get onto a case, look like your interested, take notes and look at the evidence, it will help later in the deliberation room.
10) Don't be late:
Try and get there 5 minutes early, both at the start of the day and after lunch, if your late for your case, there is a 90% chance you will be fined in contempt.

Those tips should get you through your 10 days jury service. If you have any of your own, drop them in the comments, I would love to know how you got through it.