I can’t talk about the case since we are still active jurors, but I can mention a few things I’ve learned so far that won’t go against the judge’s orders.

When you’re a juror:

1) Lunch becomes VERY important.
2) Sunshine becomes VERY important.
3) Breaks become VERY important.
4) Learning your fellow juror’s names versus simply knowing them by their numbers adds a dimension to your relationship.
5) Having a Starbuck’s right outside the building becomes essential by mid-afternoon.
6) The Stanley Mosk Superior Courthouse is filled with people from morning until night.
7) Who knew so many people represented themselves when getting a divorce? The offices for family court are right down the hall from our courtroom and are overflowing.
8) The Probate offices are downstairs and are also busy, busy, busy.
9) Parking at Disney Hall for free everyday and walking through that lovely building is a big treat.
10) An hour and a half for lunch is a necessity in downtown LA where there are a lot of people eating during that time.
11) Yoga on the park grounds may have my name on it if we’re still convening NEXT Thursday.
12) The donuts the judge provides a couple of times a week are very hard to resist for this non-refined sugar eater, particularly when I know it is TWO hours before we have a break. However, so far I have remained strong.
13) My fellow jurors can be counted on to make sure we have adequate bathroom breaks.
14) In mid-afternoon, it’s possible to hear a policeman at the metal detectors singing to his fellow officers, at least at the Starbuck’s entrance.
15) Lots of school children come on trips down to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for performances and then come over to the park next to the courthouse for lunch.
16) The Farmer’s Market on Tuesday in the park next to the courthouse is a big treat.
17) Taking notes during a trial will help keep you focused, especially mid-afternoon.
18) Fellow jurors smile A LOT when they get out even 2 minutes earlier than they expected.
19) Traffic accidents are common on the route downtown on 3rd Street from Beverly Hills at 9 am.
20) It is better to build in an extra fifteen minutes when driving to court so that it’s not necessary to sprint up 100 stairs at Disney Hall, run across the street, into the courthouse, then dash down the hall to the courtroom, sweating and out of breath.

After the trial, I might add a list about the justice system, but I think at this point that could violate the judge’s directions. For now, mum is the word.

So, I’m off to bed now. Tomorrow I have to get up early and head back downtown for yet another day of jury service.