Handbook on Jury Use in the Federal District Courts

Chapter 7
for panel assignments may purchase televisions. These courts may also
leave videocassette recorders in the assembly room when they do not
need the recorders for training. A court may purchase equipment and
other items or materials necessary for jurors' comfort and
convenience by submitting an AO Form 19 to the Administrative Office.
The jury assembly room must have adequate lighting, heating, and
cooling, and be kept clean. In most courts, jury staff have responsibility
for ensuring that the GSA or its designated contractor provides these
services. There must also be water fountains and separate rest rooms
for men and women in or near the assembly room.
Whenever a problem arises because of a significant lack of space,
most administrators have the jury staff document the problem and
report it to them.
Other Amenities
A court may purchase refreshments, such as coffee, tea, doughnuts,
and cold drinks, for jurors out of funds appropriated for jury use. It can
also arrange with the building manager to have vending machines installed.
Increasingly, courts are providing refrigerators for jurors to use. A
court may purchase one by submitting an AO Form 19 to the
Administrative Office or may be able to obtain a surplus refrigerator
from a military installation within its district.
It is important that there be access ramps into the courthouse and
proper facilities for the handicapped in the parking area, elevators,
rest rooms, assembly rooms, lounges, deliberation rooms, jury boxes,
and grand jury rooms.
In some courts, jury staff keep a list of suitable hotels and restaurants
for jurors not familiar with the area around the courthouse. They
often send a copy of it with the preliminary information sheets and
booklets. Jury staff can also find out whether hotels that have special
rates for government employees extend them to jurors, and, if so, note
this on the list. They can provide jurors entitled to a subsistence
allowance with details on the rate of reimbursement in the court's particular
area, as certified by the GSA.
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