I've been summoned to Jury Duty. I'm resigning myself to the fact I will be bladeless for an entire day while in our county courthouse.<br><br>I was forced to go there last year to get my passport renewed (they closed all the other offices due to cutbacks), and it wasn't any fun at all. Metal detectors, searches, very serious men (no women?!), and leave your dignity at the door.<br><br>Anyway, do you folks have any suggestions in the way of preparedness? After I emptied my pockets of knives, can openers, bottle openers, and all my cool gear (all made of metal), there wasn't anything left!<br>

carry a mini-bic, twine, duct-tape, and FAK (without blades of course)<br><br>See this thread for some other interesting ideas. What you can take into a courthouse and an airliner are about the same but what you might need are probably different.

Okay, what's a "FAK?"

FAK = First Aid Kit

Oh. I was thinking "False Army Knife." Go figure.

Craig,<br><br>I include a large, white handkerchief (bandana in PC disguise); minature flashlight; and whistle.<br><br>Good luck,<br><br>John

You are probably fairly safe in a courtroom setting. The bailiff is deputized, armed, and doubtless quite competent. In my local courthouse, anything sharp is strictly out, but it is still a good idea to carry a small basic first aid kit and the rest of the non-edged material. You can keep a knife, etc. in your car.<br><br>A few years ago I sat on a jury for two and one-half months, and I had to be careful about what I brought into the courtroom. It can be done.

WOW a jury for 2 1/2 months? It is probably a good idea they take the knives away? I have had jurors seemingly ready to kill the lawyers at 2 1/2 weeks!<br><br>take care,<br><br>Robb

Craig-- I am sure all courthouses are different. I work in a rural county, so it might be much different, but no one here would raise an eyebrow at something like a leatherman micra on a keychain. I would suggest that you call the Court Clerk's Office, or the D.A.'s office and they can tell you exactly what the limits are. <br><br>Robb

I already carry a Princeton Tec Blast, Mini Fox 40 whistle, tiny REI compass, and two Photon II's (red and turquoise) with me everywhere. Don't have any white handkerchiefs. Will think about sticking my orange bandanna into a pocket.

I found a pocket first-aid kit (without any blades) in the local supermarket, and that now resides in one of the pockets of my suit coat.<br><br>Two and a half months?! Jeez. Okay, I'm dying to know, what DID you bring into the courtroom?

Our county courthouse resides in a lower middle class, high-crime locale. I'd feel very safe in saying they wouldn't allow anything, no Leatherman Micras, no Victorinox Classics.

Over the past five years, security measures have increased considerably in my county Hall of Justice (Ventura County, CA). In 1997, a notice on the front door proclaimed that any blade longer than 4 inches was considered a weapon and was illegal. People entering courtrooms on the fourth floor were screened for weapons. I carried my trusty Leatherman on my belt with no hassles<br><br>In 1998, when I did my long jury tour, knives were out, anywhere in the courthouse. I was able to carry my Micra, along with other EDC items, with no problems.<br><br>Today, entering the courthouse is just like flying, although more strictly administered. Scanners, the whole bit. Every morning there are massive lines of employees trying to get to work, as well as jurors, etc.<br><br>I suppose the response to these kinds of environments is to develop a "bladeless" form of EDC, with blades located at a known location - the vehicle, checked luggage, or whatever. Along with this would be the knowledge and ability to improvise cutting implements from items at hand.<br><br>I am flying to Washington in about two weeks, intending to carry no checked luggage. Between the airlines and the locations I will visit, sharps seem like a real problem. Fortunately the trip is only for about two days.