Maleng Regional Justice Center

Ok, so I’ve been selected as a juror for my very first jury duty. It is by law that if your jury duty is in King County Superior Court, you are obligated to attend a two-​day doody doody. FML! Just hoping I’m not selected to a jury panel for consideration as a juror by the end of my second day, otherwise I am obligated to attend the full length of the trial.
They pay you $ 10/​day for attending and payments are processed every two weeks. Also, whoever drives to the court house gets mileage reimbursement, whoopidy whoo!
So I came in 15 minutes prior to 8am. Half of the room is filled with people. Now, it’s 8:30am and orientation has not even started, yet! This blows! And they tell you not to be late for jury doody?! Oh for crying out loud! People are still checking in and I have not seen the judge, yet!

As many of you can probably guess, I was selected for jury duty here in April. Let”s be honest. Most of us probably have a look of dread when we get the notice in the mail. Some people really want to do jury duty, but from conversations with others it seems like those who want to do it don’t get picked, those who don’t want to get picked do get picked. Murphy’s law. Some of us also doubt the randomness of the process. In all seriousness though I understand the need for this duty. So, even though I have no car, I found people to drive me there. I’m glad because the particular bus route I could take is always standing room only early in the morning, actually all the time because the retarded City of Auburn doesn’t believe in articulating buses. So they would rather have people stand and if there is an accident get seriously injured due to standing.
Anyway, I digress. So I arrive at the courthouse before 8am because I am told security takes awhile. But it didn’t take long at all. The bizarre thing is the front door is no longer the front door. You have to go in on the side of the building by the parking garage. I found that odd. So the holding room for the jurors is packed full. I mean PACKED. Make sure you wear extra deodorant if you are ever selected. A judge came in and did orientation shortly after eight and make sure to bring a 3DS, or smartphone with games and reading material. There is a lot of waiting, that’s just how the process is. Apparently the week I was selected was a very busy trial week. Sat in on 3, maybe 4 trials but was not selected. I was there a day and a half but the half day counted as my mandatory two days. The judges were pretty nice and let people off the hook if they had vacation planned or a major hardship. I heard from other fellow jurors that some of the judges are more lenient in that regard than others. Anyhow, I think jury duty is an experience everyone should have once. I was not selected for a trial, but it’s interesting to see how the system works, to get to sit in a courtroom. The bailiffs were very pleasant as well. The building is also a beautiful building. Another positive of the experience is I made a friend and a lunch buddy. Plenty of options for walking to lunch because Kent Station is right across the street :)

Daycare Center Update only:
ONLY use the daycare if you have to. Absolutely have to!
Don’t donate your jury reimbursements, as the court encourages you to do so!
Carolyn (SP?) whom is one of the few daycare teachers is a royal pain, very demeaning and frigid. Without going off on too much of a tangent, she belittled me in front of my step son for being late (unavoidable from the trial I was involved in) and to say less than I could, was absolutely horrific in her entire approach and demeanor. I was astounded. Literally, mouth agape and unable to retort with anything.
BTW, as you may not be made aware of this prior to bringing your children here for the free «private» daycare service, they only allow you to enroll your child in two full days of child care total and do not be 2 minutes late! Or late at all. They’ll make sure to tell you when you show up and may also inform you that they are not a part of the courts (even though they are in the same building and are in business to serve as a center for child care with court business only), but are a «private» daycare center and the courts have «no ruling over them».
Steer clear!

I have been summoned for jury duty. Let the moaning and groaning begin. Not only do I have to take days off of work, which my employer won’t pay me for, but I have to be in Kent. Just continue to twist the knife in my chest why don’t you?
I had to be in Kent at 8:00am sharp. Luckily the traffic wasn’t starting to back up yet and I arrived in a timely manner. The Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center or also known as the Kent Regional Justice Center is a nice looking building I must say. I am not an architectural aficionado by any means but I can appreciate a well built and eye pleasing building.
The parking lot is attached and is free which takes this justice center up a few notches above downtown. I walk into the building and find it clean and neat. But then again it was only built about ten or so years ago. The security line was lengthy but all the security proceeded to get us through quickly and were all very friendly.
I see a sign pointing jurors to room 2E. I get in to find a room full of cushy chairs, vending machines, a kitchen area, and an enclosed office. I assumed we would be sitting in a room with benches and that is it. The kitchen area is stocked with a sink, a refrigerator, and a microwave. All the vending machines are functional except one. There are tables and chairs scattered about. But the best thing is this building is Wi-​Fi enabled. Yes! I have something to pass the time!
We are required to check in with the ladies in the enclosed office. They are personable enough.
While the justice center doesn’t have a cafeteria, there is a small café which serves sandwiches and across the street a new high end mini mall stands with plenty of food options.
Being stuck in a room all day with strangers could have been a more annoying experience but the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center has helped to make the experience less strenuous.