NCJ Number
75577
Journal
Courts Management Journal Volume: 3 Dated: (January 1981) Pages: 20-24
Date Published
1981
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Components of a jury system are discussed, standards are presented, resistance to systems change is described, and several new jury systems techniques are considered.
Abstract
The elements of a jury system include the management plan, source lists, qualification and summoning processes, exclusions, orientation processes, terms of service, jury use, standard panel sizes, standby juror systems, voir dire practices, and monitoring and control systems. Standards have been developed for each of the components as part of the Methodology Manual for Jury Systems based on the general experiences of courts and representing the goals attained by the upper 10 to 25 percent of the courts using improved practices. Although these practices have been used by several courts for a long period of time, there is also resistance to change among many courts. Change has, in some cases, been accelerated by public opinion which favors it. Legislators have also become involved in court proceedings, and have mandated change. New techniques include using source lists other than registered voters, giving potential jurors the right to postpone their service, providing extended periods of exemption, reduction of fees to cover only out of pocket expenses for 1-day trials, simplified payment, nonunanimous decisions, changes in jury size, changes in the number of peremptories, choosing jurors from other areas rather than changing venues, and expansion and reduction in areas from which jurors are called. Notes are included.