Federal Building — Local services in Chicago

If you have jury duty here are some helpful things to know. As of Oct/2023. Doors open at 7am there is 1 bathroom for each gender on each floor this includes the cafeteria area. Cafeteria is on second floor same floor as Jury waiting room. When you get in you go through security (guards are A-holes) you are nervous going in because you get no guidance from anywhere on their forms of what to expect. Once inside you go to the non employee entrance and signs tell you to take laptop out of case and place on conveyer belt. Laptops and phones are allowed in Jury area. Guard says take of belt and anything in your pockets and watches and put in basket. I missed that he said watch as he was talking with the other 2 guards there. I came through the arch and he said I SAID WATCHES! I stepped back and put my watch in the basket on the belt, I must have put the basket on the belt cockeyed and it did not go through. I was waiting for about 15 seconds and the guy said what are you waiting for? I said my watch, then the other guard who yelled at me about my watch said "she did not put it on the belt the nice gentlemen behind her just sent it through". Very rude and they should be nicer. I understand I was not the best at entering security but honestly I do not go through security often, so they need to be more patient. Funny part was the case I was called for questioning on asked if I had any feeling for security guards, lol well now I do! Anyway go to second floor any elevator will get you there. Start letting you in room around 830 and you self check in on Kios with your SS# and your juror # on the form. After that you go to counter and get your parking sticker for validation. You sit there and watch a video of your duties and how much they appreciate you LOL like you have a choice. They have comfy chairs, they have tables with chairs (maybe 4) they have cubbies with office type chars and desk style I think there were 6 of those. There was a second room that was open not sure what was back there I did not go but it was a room of office style chairs so maybe more seating, a couple people went there. If you need a driver or whoever to come with you they are allowed to come in with you up until the video starts then they have to leave and you separate until the end of the day. They called a group of names to fill out a paper, I was not called, then they called another group of names to come up front and stand in a line with a packet with questions on it, I was called for this. Single file line to the elevators and we went to a courtroom about 45 or us. You are introduced as a group to judge / plaintiff/ defendant / all the lawyers , everyone is present. They called 14 of us to the jury box and one by one we had to sit next to judge and answer the questions on the sheet they gave us, out loud in a speaker on the stand in front of everyone. The judge made it very personable and she was nice her first name was Virginia. After that group of 14 was done the next group was up, in the middle of the second group we broke for lunch. Then back to it. It seemed liked they call you in the order of how they called you in the jury room. I was second to last and I did not get called to the jury box for questions. They got about 30 people questioned then we all had to leave court room for about 30 min and come back and they called names and those were the jurors for that trial. I was able to leave around 3pm and did not have to go back next day but have to call in the rest of the week to see if I have to do it again. Wifi password is posted around the jury room. People were still using there phones in the courtroom which I was surprised. You are free to use the bathroom while in the courtroom while judge is asking all the questions. Oh Parking Garage, if you try to leave and it says you owe 60.00 after you inserted the ticket that was validated just hit cancel on the machine and insert it the other way. I dont know why there is no directions on these things LOL I had to press the I need assistance button. I hope this...

My recent jury duty experience was surprisingly smooth. The security checkpoint was efficient, likely due to my minimal belongings: phone, keys, wallet, summons, chapstick, and lunch bag. Checking in at the kiosk around 8am, as instructed, went without a hitch despite a small crowd. The provided amenities were a nice touch, with a small refrigerator and microwave available for jurors who brought their own meals. The building itself was clean and well-maintained. If you're summoned for jury duty here, I'd strongly advise following the instructions precisely, especially during the check-in process. The staff members were professional, and the overall experience was far less daunting than anticipated. The presence of the fridge and microwave made lunch convenient, and the relatively quick security process helped ease the initial stress of arriving at the...

Jury duty experience- no liquids but you can take in an empty bottle, or one filled with ice. Food is permitted. Some folks have their lunches and there is a small fridge available in the jury room if you need it. Jury room is on the 2nd floor. They had someone posted to direct traffic once I got off the elevator. Security was pretty quick. They have you sign in via kiosk when you arrive and then you can validate your parking, pick up your payment debit card, get some coffee, settle in. A variety of seating is available. Wifi is available so I brought my computer which was fine. There are outlets if you need to charge something. Business casual seems the expectation for...