What to Bring to Jury Duty: Checklist, Phone & Laptop Rules, Food (2026)
Updated 2026-11-04 · Tracked across 399 U.S. County Courthouses
Most jurors spend the first morning waiting in a jury assembly room before anyone is called to a courtroom. Bring the paperwork that gets you through the door, something to pass the time, and nothing that security will take away. In 399 of the 399 counties we track, summoned jurors may bring a phone even where the public cannot. 399 also allow laptops in the assembly room.
Jury duty checklist
| Bring | Why |
|---|---|
| Your jury summons (printed) | Security and the jury office check it. In phone-ban courthouses, the summons is what gets your phone through. |
| Government photo ID | Required at check-in in nearly every county. |
| Parking ticket or garage stub | Validation only works for the lot or garage listed on your summons, and you usually validate inside the jury room. |
| Phone charger or battery pack | Outlets in assembly rooms are limited. Leave the charger at home where jurors cannot bring phones. |
| A book, e-reader or work to do | Waits of 2–4 hours before voir dire are common. |
| A sweater or light jacket | Assembly rooms and courtrooms are often kept cold. |
| Snacks and a plastic or empty water bottle | Most courts allow sealed snacks in the jury lounge. Glass bottles and metal utensils are often confiscated. |
| Medications you need that day | Keep them in the original labeled container. |
| Employer letter or form | If your employer needs proof of service, ask the jury office for a certificate before you leave. |
Leave these at home
- Pocket knives, multi-tools, scissors and nail files: confiscated at the magnetometer and usually not returned. See the full prohibited items list.
- Pepper spray on your keyring: treated as a weapon.
- Your phone, if you will be a spectator or witness at a courthouse that bans phones for the public. The juror exemption covers jurors only.
Can jurors bring a phone or laptop? (largest counties)
Jurors may bring phones in these large counties. Check your own county page for building-level rules:
- Los Angeles County, CA
- Cook County, IL
- Harris County, TX
- Maricopa County, AZ
- San Diego County, CA
- Orange County, CA
- Miami-Dade County, FL
- Dallas County, TX
- Kings County, NY
- Riverside County, CA
- Clark County, NV
- King County, WA
See every county on the juror phone & laptop rules page, or use the phone checker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you bring your phone to jury duty?
Usually yes. In 399 of the 399 largest U.S. counties, summoned jurors may bring a phone into the jury assembly room, even in some courthouses that ban phones for the public. Phones must be silenced and are typically collected or turned off once you are seated on a jury.
Can you bring food to jury duty?
Most courts allow snacks and drinks in the jury assembly room, but not inside courtrooms. Glass containers and metal utensils are often refused at security, so pack food in plastic.
Can you bring a laptop to jury duty?
399 of 399 tracked counties let jurors bring a laptop into the assembly room. Many provide Wi-Fi, but outlets are limited, so arrive charged.
What should I wear to jury duty?
Business casual is safest. Clean dark jeans are accepted in most jury rooms. Shorts, flip-flops, tank tops and clothing with slogans are commonly refused. Bring a layer because rooms are cold.
Skip the Security Line & Protect Your Record in your county
If you have a Traffic Ticket, Speeding/CDL Violation, DUI, Misdemeanor, or Family Court hearing in your county, a licensed local attorney can often appear in court on your behalf—saving you from missing work, risking a bench warrant, or taking points on your license.