My summons came for the middle of October and it is my first one. I have read everything on the LA County court site and still have no idea what the day actually looks like.
What really happens when you show up?
10 Likes
Downtown at Mosk you want to be in line before eight or you stand outside in it. Let me be honest, the whole first day is sitting in a big room waiting for your group number to get called.
3 Likes
The part that surprised me is that you probably will not go in on the first day at all. You get a five day window and you check your status online each evening, and most nights it just says you are not needed. Pay is fifteen dollars a day starting on day two plus mileage, so nobody is doing this for the money. Ask your job early, mine paid the days out and I only learned that because I asked.
4 Likes
They sent me to the Inglewood courthouse, which I can walk to, and it was honestly not bad. Checked in around half past seven, sat through the questions with about sixty other people, got cut loose by two in the afternoon. Bring cash for the lot if you drive, the machine did not take my card.
3 Likes
If you get sent downtown, do not try to park at the courthouse. I leave the car at the Music Center garage on Grand and walk down, it is about seven minutes and cheaper than circling. Metro is better if you are anywhere near the B line, Civic Center station puts you a block away. Check in is on the ground floor and the badge they hand you gets you back in after lunch.
3 Likes
Honestly I went in dreading it and it turned out fine!! I got called into a courtroom, the judge explained the case, and then they asked us all these questions in front of everybody which was the only awkward part. I got sent home at the end of the day and that was my whole service. Bring a charger and something to read, the wifi in the waiting room barely worked lol.
2 Likes
I actually got seated on a trial, three days on a civil case at the airport courthouse near LAX, so here is the other half of it. One day or one trial means exactly that, if they pick you the clock stops mattering and you are there until the case is done. The questioning part is not a test, they are looking for reasons you cannot be fair, and answering straight is how you get excused if you genuinely have a conflict.
Two practical things. Postpone online if the date is bad, you get one move without a fight. And once you have served they leave you alone for a year.
5 Likes
I brought a fully charged Switch and never took it out of my bag, because the room is quiet enough that you feel weird doing anything. Ended up reading two hundred pages instead.
2 Likes
Remember.. in California, if you’re summoned for jury duty, your employer has to allow you the necessary time off to serve.
2 Likes
Right, but the catch is that California law does not generally require a private employer to pay your normal wages while you’re on jury duty.
3 Likes
I wish LA County would actually compensate this, but for ordinary LA County jury duty, the court pays $15 per day starting on the second day of service. That’s literally a slap in the face for everyone selected.
The travel reimbursement of $0.34 (max 12 bucks) barely covers the gas.
2 Likes
Now imagine you’re actually selected as a juror and you serve for the entire trial. LA Superior Court says most trials last about 5–7 days, though some can be considerably longer.
1 Like
Some complex criminal cases can run for months. That could literally destroy someone’s finances, especially if you live from paycheck to paycheck.
1 Like
Right, and that is bad, but don’t get scared right away. If you report and aren’t assigned to a case, you’re usually done at the end of that day.
2 Likes
Yes, I believe I heard that about 70% finish in one day. Just hope you don’t have an actual trial assigned.
2 Likes