depending on what kind of case, just show bias for one side or the other...then the opposing side will most likely excuse you.
before we would have to wait in a room and they would call people in alphabetical order. since my last name is near the end, i would always be there all day. now they give you a # and you call in the day before, and they tell you if you need to come in or not. last couple of times i called, i never had to go in.
