Federal jury duty - Sherman

[chasfm11]

I've received a summons for the petite jury. While there is every likelihood that I will actually have to appear at some other location within this Federal district, I thought that I would ask if anyone has had experience with the Sherman court house. My expectation is that there is no good place to park when I arrive that isn't on Federal property and that means that my EDC stays home for what is likely to be a fairly long trip. With I-75 in rough shape from McKinney to Sherman because of the construction, I'm expecting to have to use alternate routes from North DFW area.

We have an RV and if I get put on a long trial, I make take it to a close by campground. It would be better than an awful drive twice every day. At least when I serve Denton jury duty, I can store my gun locked in my car.

[ScottDLS]

I've received a summons for the petite jury. While there is every likelihood that I will actually have to appear at some other location within this Federal district, I thought that I would ask if anyone has had experience with the Sherman court house. My expectation is that there is no good place to park when I arrive that isn't on Federal property and that means that my EDC stays home for what is likely to be a fairly long trip. With I-75 in rough shape from McKinney to Sherman because of the construction, I'm expecting to have to use alternate routes from North DFW area.

We have an RV and if I get put on a long trial, I make take it to a close by campground. It would be better than an awful drive twice every day. At least when I serve Denton jury duty, I can store my gun locked in my car.

Under 18 USC 926 you can leave your gun in the car in the parking lot there unless it is posted otherwise by the judge. The court building itself is off limits and they'll likely have metal detectors anyway.

A friend of my father is the Magistrate Judge for that district, but I've never been to the courthouse in Sherman so I don't know if the lot is posted.

[sjfcontrol]

The courtroom is on the second floor over a bank(as I recall). Parking is free on any of several area lots. No parking allowed in the bank lot. You pass thru a metal detector when you enter the room. When I was there (January) they had two vending machines, and both were broken. Also, no place handy to eat, or even get a bottle of water. And NOTHING can be taken into the courtroom, no water, no reading material, no electronic devices. LOTS of waiting, and nothing to do but stare at the walls. Not a real pleasant experience. At least I only had to be there the first day, and went home hungry around 2:00 pm.

[couzin]

That is why a cheap truck gun is useful.

[chasfm11]

The courtroom is on the second floor over a bank(as I recall). Parking is free on any of several area lots. No parking allowed in the bank lot. You pass thru a metal detector when you enter the room. When I was there (January) they had two vending machines, and both were broken. Also, no place handy to eat, or even get a bottle of water. And NOTHING can be taken into the courtroom, no water, no reading material, no electronic devices. LOTS of waiting, and nothing to do but stare at the walls. Not a real pleasant experience. At least I only had to be there the first day, and went home hungry around 2:00 pm.

Thanks very much for that feedback. Much of it was as I expected (no food, no electronics, no reading material) I'll assume that I could leave a cooler in the car with food and water at least.

I pretty much figured that it wasn't going to be pleasant. I served on a civil jury in Ft. Worth and have been rejected for criminal trials in both Ft. Worth and Denton. Depending on the case, I figure that there is little chance I'll get past voir dire. For all of them we were pretty much treated like cattle. I don't play the cattle role very well. Particularly if I'm hungry.

[sjfcontrol]

The courtroom is on the second floor over a bank(as I recall). Parking is free on any of several area lots. No parking allowed in the bank lot. You pass thru a metal detector when you enter the room. When I was there (January) they had two vending machines, and both were broken. Also, no place handy to eat, or even get a bottle of water. And NOTHING can be taken into the courtroom, no water, no reading material, no electronic devices. LOTS of waiting, and nothing to do but stare at the walls. Not a real pleasant experience. At least I only had to be there the first day, and went home hungry around 2:00 pm.

Thanks very much for that feedback. Much of it was as I expected (no food, no electronics, no reading material) I'll assume that I could leave a cooler in the car with food and water at least.

I pretty much figured that it wasn't going to be pleasant. I served on a civil jury in Ft. Worth and have been rejected for criminal trials in both Ft. Worth and Denton. Depending on the case, I figure that there is little chance I'll get past voir dire. For all of them we were pretty much treated like cattle. I don't play the cattle role very well. Particularly if I'm hungry.

I know what you mean. Of course they also wanted you to wear a jacket and tie. That makes me even more uncomfortable. Only time I wear a tie anymore is if someone's getting married, or buried. They had a supply of ties and jackets available, supposedly if someone forgot. Glad it's over and I didn't have to spend a week there. Yes, during the breaks you can leave if you have food or whatever in your car. You will have to go thru the metal detector again when you return.

[Mel]

Just an FYI, I-75 does not run through Texas. That would be US 75.

[chasfm11]

Follow up: They did call me to the Sherman courthouse. It was a single panel of 36 for an 8 person jury in a civil matter. I have relatives in the industry of the defendant so I didn't think I would be selected and I wasn't. The lot where I was able to park did not have any gun related signs so I could have taken it and left it in the car. Now that I understand the logistics, I will handle it differently if I'm called again. There is also a Plano location but I'm not sure if it is the same setup.

The bad news for me from the experience is that one of the other jury pool members had been called in each of the last 3 year for both Federal and county jury duties. I sure hope that doesn't turn out to be me, too.