I may be called to jury duty this week. According to the court’s web page:
Please do not bring the following items with you: mace, hair spray, laser pointers, knitting needles, scissors, nail files/clippers, or pocket knives. These items will be confiscated.
Since I can’t take those items, perhaps I should take:
- oven cleaner
- oxy-acetylene torch
- laser level
- hedge trimmer
- baseball bat
It seems silly to me to have a list of banned items that specific. I’d think it would be better to ban all knives and sharp instruments, hazardous chemicals, and lasers. I’m not sure whether it makes sense to ban blunt instruments.
I suppose I should be glad that they haven’t followed the TSA’s lead and banned bottled water.
Update:Â the paperwork has more details; it says:
Knitting needles, scissors, knives, or weapons, of any type, including but not limited to guns, stun guns, mace or other caustic materials, are not allowed in any court facility. Items deemed a hazard by officers will be retained at the security center and returned to you when you exit the courthouse.
This seems like a reasonable policy; although there might be grey areas, they will return such items rather than seizing or destroying them.
When I served on jury duty a couple of years ago they let us bring our knitting into the jury room, but not the court room. I don’t think I could have done the week I did there if I couldn’t have knit…..I’m sorry for you. Too be sure, why don’t you call and ask them about the jury room; you might be surprised.
It would be hard to conceal a hedge trimmer.
Or a baseball bat. But I was’t talking about concealing anything. Anyhow, if I’m called, I just want a book to read (while I’m waiting), a notepad and pen, and bottled water.