I recently got my fourth summons to serve a term as a juror in Clackamas county. I feel sort of targeted in a way. I am not sure just how the seem to select me so often when others I know have never been selected. I am just popular. Don’t disparage if you have been selected, for if you know what to expect, the experience can be pretty interesting. The summons comes with most of the information you need to know to make your arrangements. Even instructions on how you might get out of serving your duty.

• On my second summons, my employer insisted that I submit the requests to be excused. And while the county agreed, I don’t recommend this tact. One of the first things you do as a juror, is to see a patriotically inspiring video as to why this is your duty. I don’t have anything to add to that argument.
• You can ask that your duty be postponed, as I did on my third summons. They even give you a chance to say what date is the first available one that will work for you. Be aware that it is likely, like it my case that they will likely serve you again on that first available week. I don’t think they will just forget about you.
• If you do get selected to go in to a trial, you will likely first go through a period of questioning where the attorneys try to figure out if you are going to be the right person.  After the questions, you all are excused while they figure it out and come back with the final selections for the trial.  I’m not offering any advice on what to say to get out of duty.  The questions and answers are straightforward.  You are either in or out, based on your history. One guy in the last trial seemed to try very hard to get convince them he wasn’t the right guy.  He got picked anyway.
• On my first term, the county asked that you come in each day of the week and wait to be assigned or released. I served on two trials in that week.
• Since that time, they have gone to a system where you call in each night to see if you are needed the following day. On the third term I didn’t get called in til Thursday, and was released after waiting there most of the day, with out ever being called to a trial.
• My fourth and most recent service, I was called in on Thursday again, and got selected by 9:30 am for the first trial of the day.
• The summons does say that parking is limited. In fact,  they will tell you the closest free parking is behind the West Linn police station. Yea, a little weird to hear them say that if you want to park for free, you have to do it in the next town. But really, the station is just off the West Linn  side of the Oregon City bridge, and the court buildings are about 3 blocks off the Oregon City side, so its not a bad walk.
• I chose to ride the bike, to save driving and parking.  Oddly enough I could not find any bike parking racks on the courthouse block.  There was one at the McMennamins on McLoughlin, and one small one on the sidewalk the next building over. Hmmm, this is a public building right?
• Heres a tip. Read the address on the summons.  The jurors assembly room is no longer in the courthouse building,  so dont unpack an remove all your metal accessories and try to get in to the courthouse first thing in the morning.  The guard there will sternly instruct you that you must go next door.  I think he has done that a lot, and is likely tired of people not able to read addresses and follow simple instructions.
• Anyway the room next door is bigger and newer and much nicer.  This will become important if you have to spend much time waiting in it, with 50 other people.
• The court is willing to pay you $10.00 for your day in court.  Somehow, I just wasn’t interested. I waived it.
• They do give you a cool jurors button you have to wear all the time, so everyone can stare at you, but no one can talk to you.
• The button does get you a 20% discount for drinks and lunch at the Subway and the coffee shop across the street.  So that was cool.
• Only bottled water in clear bottle is allowed in the courthouse.
• She also announced to us, that if the bottles were not sealed, you may be asked to drink from them to prove it is water and not some dangerous substance. hmmm.
• Don’t buy your water in the machines at the jury room.  One lady paid 1.30 for hers.  Across the street, and with my discount, I was out just .80 cents.  That’s  a .50 cent savings right there.