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Offline Use

JuryBinder is designed to work without internet. Offline capability is not a workaround — it is the intended operating mode during trial.

What works offline

Everything that matters during voir dire and the strike phase works without an internet connection:

  • Opening, viewing, and editing case files
  • Recording notes, flags, and favorability ratings
  • Running flag rules and viewing results
  • Recording strikes and seating jurors
  • Exporting case files and the Discovery Strip
  • Privacy Mode

When internet is required

JuryBinder contacts the license server in three situations only, and none of them contain case data:

Event Requires internet Data sent to server
First license activation Yes License key only
Creating a new case Yes License key + a random case UUID
30-day token check-in Yes (brief, background) License key only

In all three cases, the data sent to the server is limited to your license key and, when registering a case, a randomly generated UUID that has no connection to your case name, jurors, or any trial content.

Using JuryBinder in a courtroom

Most courtrooms have unreliable or no wifi. JuryBinder is designed for this. The recommended workflow:

  1. Before you leave for the courthouse — open JuryBinder and confirm your case file loads. This ensures the latest version of the app is cached and your file is accessible.
  2. At the courthouse — open JuryBinder normally. No internet required.
  3. After court — if you're approaching the 30-day check-in, JuryBinder will refresh your token automatically the next time you're connected.

If your session token has expired and you cannot reach the server, you'll see a notice at the top of the welcome screen. You can still open and work in any existing case file — you simply cannot create a new case until connectivity is restored.

Saving work offline

JuryBinder auto-saves your work to the browser's private local storage (OPFS) as you go. If your browser tab closes unexpectedly, your work is recoverable from this local copy the next time you open JuryBinder.

To save a copy to your device's file system:

  • Desktop (Chrome/Edge): Click Save — JuryBinder writes directly to the .jbinder file on disk
  • iPad (Safari): Click Export — JuryBinder writes the file to your Files app or iCloud Drive

Don't rely on the browser's local storage as your only backup

Local storage can be cleared by the browser, especially on iOS if storage is low. Always export your .jbinder file to your device's file system after significant work sessions. Treat the local storage copy as a crash-recovery buffer, not your primary file.