Summary of State and Local Justice Initiatives 2000

JURORS AND JURIES

There has been a dramatic increase in the volume of litigation in both state and federal courts over the past few decades. The jury system has come under serious scrutiny as studies are made to determine how the jury system can be changed to meet the impending challenges of the twenty-first century. Some jurisdictions have enacted programs to broaden the jury pool to make it more representative. Some have sought to increase the jury’s efficiency by allowing jurors to take notes and/or ask questions of the judge.

The Arkansas Judicial Council, in addition to proposing the unification of the structure of the Arkansas court system, endorses a move from partisan to non-partisan judicial elections and the establishment of a process to consider merit selection of appellate judges. The Council has appointed a special task force to consider changes in the jury system.

The Judicial Council Task Force on Jury System Improvement was appointed in 1998 and charged with encouraging excellence in the California jury system. At the same time, the Task Force on Jury Instructions is completing its work drafting civil and criminal jury instructions that accurately state the law and are understandable to jurors.

In Colorado, the Court is also involved in continuing to improve the way juries are managed and treated through a commission on jury reform that includes non-lawyers.

In Washington, DC the private Council for Court Excellence maintains a wide variety of District of Columbia justice improvement projects including a jury project based on its 1998 publication of "Juries for the Year 2000 and Beyond: Proposals to Improve the Jury System in Washington."

In Florida a Jury Innovations Committee considers the juror experience, the decision-making process and jury management. Committee members include lawyers, judges and former jurors.

In Maryland, the Council on Jury Use and Management is charged with finding ways to evaluate and strengthen the institution of jury trials in Maryland. The Council has studied the current state of jury service in Maryland, and based upon its findings, has proposed reforms to improve the jury system. Judges representing the Council have appeared on television and radio to help gauge the public’s views on jury service, with positive results.

In Missouri a new "Jury Appreciation Week" will be held statewide with a wide range of activities planned to honor citizens who have served as jurors and to educate the public about the importance of jury service.

The Ohio State Bar Foundation’s Fellows sponsored the 1999 Jury Conference designed to bring together jury commissioners, bailiffs, clerks of court, judges, court administrators and former jurors to exchange information and brainstorm new ideas on improving the infrastructure of jury management throughout the state.

The Philadelphia Bar Association received a Model/Demonstration Grant from the ABA Coalition for Justice and Committee on State Justice Initiatives for "Partners in Justice," a jury participation project, arising from a two-year series of focus groups and a town hall meeting to look at the problems of jury service.

The Board of Judicial Administration formed the Washington State Jury Commission to examine issues in the jury system including juror responsiveness, citizen satisfaction from jury service, adequacy of juror reimbursement and improving juror participation in trials. The Commission included representatives from court organizations, bar associations, business, labor, the legislature, government and citizens. Three subcommittees were established – Citizen Participation in the Jury System, Jury Process Improvement, and Enhancing Services for Jurors.

Further information can be obtained from the National Center for State Courts, 757/259-1841, the American Judicature Society, 312/558-6900 and the ABA Office of Justice Initiatives Fact Sheets found at www.abanet.org/justice.

The plain-language Roadmap, "The American Jury – Changes for the 21^st Century," provides valuable information and specific examples of projects and programs focused on juror/jury issues. Roadmaps are available through the ABA Office of Justice Initiatives, 312/988-6138, justice@abanet.org.