5 Tips to Survive Jury Duty in Fall River

Congratulations! You’ve been called to serve your civic duty as a juror. If you’ve been asked to report to the Fall River Justice Center, here are a few tips to help prepare you for your ‪jury duty‬ experience.

1
Park in the garage
The garage at 157 3rd Street only charges $7 per day for jurors. Just get your pass stamped by the court officer. ***DO NOT PARK AT A METER! You will risk getting a ticket if you are unable to feed the meter on time. Plan on being there from 8 am - 4:30 pm.
2
No Wifi
The Fall River Justice Center does not offer wifi. Unless you have a personal hotspot for your laptop / tablet, you will not be able to get work done. Make sure your cell is fully charged and you have a set of headphones. Bring a book to read, or that adult coloring book you’ve been meaning to give a try. The day I served, ‘Fever Pitch’ was playing on the screen in the jury pool room. It was nice having a distraction.
3
Bring a snack
There is a Dunkin Donuts across the street from the Fall River Justice Center. It helps to have a coffee walking in since you might be waiting for a LONG TIME. That said, you might want to pack a light snack too. Preferably not chips or something super loud when you chew. Best not to annoy your fellow jurors before any of you actually get picked.
4
Dress appropriately
You are there to potentially serve as a juror in a trial. Look presentable. Business casual. You will be in a room filled with professionals. Also, the courtroom was pretty cold. Other parts of the building are like a sauna. So wear layers to help adjust to the temperature.
5
Take advantage of your breaks
If you’re chosen to serve, you have a very limited amount of time to yourself. Sometimes you’ll get a quick break in between witnesses, at which point you should use the restroom and drink some water. Lunch hour is typically between 1 & 2 pm. There are a few places you could grab a bite to eat that are walking distance from the Justice Center. You may want to call in an order ahead of time, depending on how much time you have:
1. Dunkin Donuts - across the street (save 5% if you park in the garage and show them your pass)
2. Taphouse Grille - tavern across the street
3. Javahouse - cafe across the street
4. Subway - 2 minute walk
5. Harry’s Restaurant - 2 minute walk
6. Cav’s - 3 minute walk
7. Tequila Lime Cantina - 6 minute walk