for me jury duty was more anxiety but amounted to nothing. I went to the courthouse everyday and sat with a roomfull of people. the room had some tables set up, on some coffee doughnuts and so on and on others puzzles, newspapers, magazines (outdated so after the first day I took my oun books). you basically sat there either talking and munching of the food they brought in or did whatever you brought with you. each day throughout the day numbers were called to go on a case. If your number didn't get called you didn't do anything. when my number was called on the last day of my "serviing" it was for a motor vehicle accident with a possible drunk driver. I was taken up to the courtroom to be guestioned by lawyers on both sides to see if they wanted to keep me on the jury for the case or send me home. Basically each side asked each person two questions. My first one was do I drink? and the second if I knew anyone who drank and drove. My answers not any more and my relative died while drinking and driving. those were from the defendants lawyer and the prosecution said no questions. then they both wrote something down on paper. and gave it to the judge. a couple people later the judge told me I was free to leave I would not be serving on that jury. So that told me that one or the other considered my answers a danger to either proving their client innocent or guilty. during that two weeks jury selections 600 people were sent notices and only 120 people were needed for active serving. when I asked why they sent out so many notices there are never any guarentees on how many people go through the court room questionaires before they find those twelve they need so to be safe they send out for above and beyond what they really need.

I cant tell you how to get out of active service but what helped me alot was taking a backpack with things from home to comfort and keep me busiy while waiting for my number to be called. I took crocheting, 2 books(one reading one puzzle type), snacks and gum (lots of gum LOL) and a notebook and 2 pens.