(d) Waiver; Withdrawal. A party waives a jury trial unless its demand is properly served and filed.It is extremely important that you be prompt both in the morning and when returning from lunch. You have to tell the judge that before the trial starts. He will probably just excuse you from the case. A jury is made up of 12 people who are chosen at random to hear the evidence and decide if the accused is guilty or not guilty. A Practice Note addressing the practical considerations of a civil bench trial in federal court, including when a bench trial may be available. When I was a young lawyer trying one of my first jury trials, I noticed a sleeping juror in the box. After accepting a waiver of jury trial, the court may permit the defendant to withdraw the waiver only on motion made before trial and for good cause shown. In cases of severe weather, the entire courthouse is sometimes closed.