NCJ Number
82184
Date Published
1981
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Findings and recommendations are presented from an assessment of Federal jury management practices.
Abstract
The study does not show much improvement in juror use over the past 5 years, as evidenced by statistics on the percentage of jurors not selected, serving, or challenged (unused jurors) over this period. The importance of optimizing juror use is indicated by the $5.7 million spent for unused jurors in the year ending June 30, 1980. Untapped opportunities exist to further reduce the number of prospective jurors summoned to appear at district courts but not selected to serve. The lack of improvement in juror use in recent years is apparently the result of (1) many district courts not using efficient juror use practices, (2) the judicial councils' not assuming an active role over district jury use practices, and (3) the judiciary not having adequate information on jury management practices. Also, the statistical indices used to measure juror use efficiency do not accurately reflect how efficiently district courts are using their jurors. The Administrative Office should improve the management information it gathers on district court jury practices, so as to assist the judicial councils and courts in identifying specific areas where cost savings could be achieved. Judicial councils should also monitor district courts to ensure that they are using jurors in the most efficient manner by such means as the pooling of jurors and the simultaneous examination and selection of two or more juries to be subsequently used in separate trials before the same judge. Data for the study were taken from the western district of Washington, the northern district of California, the Ninth Circuit Judicial Council, the Federal Judicial Center, and the Administrative Office. Tabular data are provided. (Author summary modified)