ATRA Study Finds California Civil Justice System Needs Jurors; Barely A Quarter Of Californians Summoned Actually Serve On A Jury

10/2/2002

From: Mike Hotra of the American Tort Reform Association, 202-682-1163

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 -- A report released today by the American Tort Reform Association revealed that California's court system lacks an important ingredient -- jurors.

The report, "A Look At California Juries: Participation, Shortcomings and Recommendations" revealed some damning facts about the jury system in California, and just how serious a problem jury avoidance has become.

"Jurors are vital to maintaining a fair and equitable court system," said ATRA President Sherman Joyce. "Our intent was to examine jury response rates and isolate patterns in juror excusals. This report highlights the absolute necessity to focus on those who do not respond to jury summons and why they are not serving."

The report research concentrates on available jury data and highlights:

-- California's dismally low juror response rates: only 19 percent in Los Angeles. -- Nearly 40 percent of summons neither reached potential jurors or were sent to individuals who are not qualified to serve. -- Recent attempts at jury response rate improvements cannot be quantified based on current available data

USC Law Professor Daniel Klerman stated in the report, "Clearly, the most obvious and pervasive problem is that jurors who are properly summoned did not appear. Over a quarter of those summoned simply ignored the call to jury duty."

The report recommended straightforward solutions to California's juror shortage: -- Collection of reliable data collection process in order to determine who is not serving and why; -- Enforcement legislation that creates consequences for those who fail to respond to a juror summons; -- Consideration of juror pay to a more meaningful amount, (current pay is $15 per day) and tax credits to employers who pay usual compensation to workers who are absent from work on account of jury service.

Jury service is one of the best opportunities citizens have to make sure our civil justice works for everyone. It is an important civic responsibility. This report provides a critical analysis and the foundation to improving the jury system in California.

------ "A Look At California Juries: Participation, Shortcomings and Recommendations" can be found at http://www.atra.org.