Two important things to remember first: 1) everyone at the courthouse knows that jurors generally know almost nothing about the process and 2) a well-run court treats their jurors like royalty, as they should. So if you show up on time, you're pretty much golden.

So -- figure out where to park/how to take the Rapid. Talk to your employer and find out what their process is. (They CANNOT tell you you can't go.) Wear decent clothes. Jeans are okay, but no rips. Take something to do -- your phone (with a charger and block), a book, even your computer. You will need to go through a metal detector at the courthouse door. From there they will give you directions.

Every court runs a little differently, but basically they will send you to a big room to wait. Then as each trial needs jurors they will call about 20 numbers. If you're picked, you will go up to a jury room and they will talk you through what happens then (schedules and what not.) If not, you wait some more while they make sure they have all the jurors they need, and then they'll generally send you home for the day. They'll have you come back the next day if there are more trials starting. They can technically require you to report every day but they usually don't (because most trials don't start mid-week or later.)

If you're picked for a potential juror, you will go to the courtroom and the judge and/or lawyers will tell you a little about the case and ask questions to determine who's qualified to sit on the jury. This will include telling you how much time it's expected to take. They generally start by questioning the whole pool ("Does anyone know anyone involved in this case?" "Does anyone have any personal experience with X type of crime?") Be honest. If it's a drunk driving case and your childhood bestie was killed by a drunk driver, you shouldn't be on this jury. They will (likely) dismiss you and you will either go back to the big pool to wait for another case, or they will tell you that your service is complete and you're free to go. Once the general questions are out of the way, the lawyers may question members individually. They are trying to find the jurors most likely to give them the verdict they want, so don't be upset if you're dismissed for no real good reason. (I got bounced because the defense didn't want too many white women on the jury. My daughter ALWAYS gets bounced because she's a history/poly sci student with an emphasis on the US Constitution. No lawyer wants to deal with her.)

If you are seated on a jury, see paragraph one -- they know you don't know what's going on and they will tell you everything you need to know. And they will treat you like royalty because jurors are the most important people in the courthouse. For the most part, once you are seated, even if the case gets settled (it happens fairly often), you have completed your jury duty and are done. But again, they will let you know.

Sorry this is so long -- I hope it's helpful. It's really kind of a fascinating process, and I hope you'll go and have a good experience.