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Jury Duty, Parts 1-3 Social Stories

A mailbox with two envelopes inside.

If I’m summoned, I will receive a letter in the mail from my county’s jury system.

A form for jury duty that states,

It will tell me what forms to fill out, where to go, when to be there, and other important details.

Two forms with the scales of justice on the top left corner.

I will fill out forms before I go into the jury office. If I need help, I can ask someone.

A water bottle, a bag of pretzels, an apple, and a fidget spinner.

Before I leave for court, I may want to pack water, snacks, and fidgets.

A courthouse building.

I will go to the courthouse on the date that is listed in my letter.

A woman wearing nice clothes, a form, and a photo ID card.

I will wear nice clothes and bring my letter, forms, and photo ID.

A woman walking through a metal detector while a a security guard holds a metal detection wand.

I will need to go through a metal detector and put any items into a basket. I will get them back after they are scanned.

A woman holding up forms to another woman sitting at a front desk.

I will hand the front desk my forms and ID. Someone will tell me where to sit and wait.

A woman sitting in a chair and a clock to show she's waiting.

I may have to wait a long time. This could take a few hours or all day.

A man saying

I will wait until my name is called or I am given other instructions.

A blue locker with a water bottle, apple, and a purse inside.

If my name is called, I may be asked to lock all my stuff in a locker. I will get my stuff back at the end of the day.

Four jurors sitting in a courtroom.

Next, I will be taken to a courtroom for jury duty selection.

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A form and a manila envelope.

Jury duty selection happens after I am called for duty.

A courthouse building.

I will go to the courthouse on the date my summons letter says to.

A man sitting in waiting room chairs and playing with a fidget spinner.

I may have to wait a while to be called on. I can bring fidgets to use while I wait.

A judge and man in a courtroom. The judge says,

If my name is called, I will be taken to the courtroom and told where to sit.

A judge sitting at a desk and two attorneys standing nearby.

I will meet the judge and those involved with the case.

A judge sitting at a desk says,

The judge will explain everything that is going to happen today.

A judge sitting at a desk asking a man

The judge will ask the group questions. I must answer honestly.

A man sitting in a courtroom saying,

If I can’t commit to jury duty, I will be given the chance to tell the judge why. Having an autism diagnosis might not be enough to get out of it.

A judge and an attorney talking while a man sits in the jury box.

I will wait for the judge and attorneys to decide who the jury is. This could take a while.

The judge telling a juror,

If I am not selected, I will be asked to leave. I can get my stuff back and go home.

A judge saying,

If I am selected, I will be asked to stay in the courtroom. The judge will tell us what happens next.

A man walking into a courthouse.

I will come back to court on another day.

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A judge sitting at a desk with a gavel. She is pointing her finger.

After I am selected for jury duty, the judge or a staff member will explain the process before I go home.

A water bottle, a fidget spinner, snacks, an ID card, and a man dressed in nice clothes.

When I return to court, I will wear something nice and bring water, snacks, fidgets, and my photo ID.

A man sitting in waiting room chair. There are a hand and a clock to represent wait time.

I will be asked to wait until the rest of the jury shows up.

A blue locker with a phone, fidget spinner, and jacket inside.

Once everyone is here, we will be asked to put our stuff in a locker and then taken to the courtroom.

A man raising his right hand in a courtroom.

The judge will swear us in. This means that I will raise my right hand and answer a question by saying “yes” or “I do.”

A judge, the jury, and an attorney in a courtroom.

Court will begin, and I will hear the attorneys, judge, and witnesses speak.

A juror taking notes while an attorney speaks in court.

It is important I stay quiet and pay attention all day. I might also be allowed to take notes.

Two people talking. There is a red circle with a line through it over them.

I am not allowed to talk about the case with anyone outside of court until the trial is over.

A restroom sign and a pink vending machine.

We might take short breaks throughout the day; this is called recess. I can use the bathroom or grab a drink.

A colorful calendar.

The trial could take one day, or it might take multiple days to a week. I will have to be there every day.

Jurors sitting at a table with their notes to deliberate.

After we hear everyone speak, we will be asked to deliberate. This means we will talk through the details of the case and charges. We will decide if the person is innocent or guilty, or if they are liable or not liable.

A jury sitting in the jury box while the foreperson gives the verdict and says,

Once we come to a decision, we will go back to the courtroom. The jury foreperson will give the verdict.

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Other downloads

Name Description Type File
Getting Summoned for Jury Duty This social story explains what the process is like when you are summoned for jury duty. pdf Download file: Getting Summoned for Jury Duty
Jury Duty Selection This social story explains what jury duty selection is like and what you will have to do. pdf Download file: Jury Duty Selection
Going to Court for Jury Duty This social story explains what happens when you go to court after being selected for jury duty. pdf Download file: Going to Court for Jury Duty

This information was developed by the Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training Collaborative (ASERT). For more information, please contact ASERT at 877-231-4244 or info@PAautism.org. ASERT is funded by the Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations, PA Department of Human Services.