NCJ Number
41516
Date Published
1977
Length
204 pages
Annotation
MANY CITIZENS HAVE COME TO PERCEIVE JURY SERVICE AS AN ONEROUS DUTY TO BE AVOIDED WHENEVER POSSIBLE.
Abstract
UNDER THE CONVENTIONAL 30-DAY TERM, A PROSPECTIVE JUROR IS REQUIRED TO PUT ASIDE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR A MONTH TO BE ENTIRELY AT THE DISPOSAL OF THE COURT. IN WAYNE COUNTY, MICHIGAN, THE COURTS HAVE ADOPTED A PROMISING ALTERNATIVE TO THE LENGTHY JURY TERM: ONE DAY/ ONE TRIAL. AS THE NAME IMPLIES, JURORS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SERVICE FOR ONLY ONE DAY. IF THEY ARE NOT SELECTED BY THE END OF THE DAY, THEY HAVE FULFILLED THEIR OBLIGATION FOR A YEAR. JUDGES AND ADMINISTRATORS PRAISE ONE DAY/ONE TRIAL FROM TWO STANDPOINTS: 1) EFFICIENCY IN JURY MANAGEMENT, AND 2) IMPROVED ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. THE SYSTEM TAPS SEVEN TIMES AS MANY CITIZENS FOR JURY DUTY, MAKES BETTER USE OF THEIR TIME, AND SAVES MONEY FOR THE COURTS. INTENDED PRIMARILY FOR JUDGES, COURT ADMINISTRATORS, AND OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE OFFICIALS WHO WISH TO IMPROVE THE SYSTEM OF JUROR SELECTION AND UTILIZATION IN THEIR JURISDICTIONS, THIS MANUAL DOCUMENTS THE HISTORY, OPERATIONS, RESULTS, AND COSTS OF THE WAYNE COUNTY ONE DAY/ONE TRIAL SYSTEM. IT ALSO ADDRESSES SPECIFIC CONCERNS INVOLVING THE REPLICABILITY OF THE SYSTEM. ATTACHED AS AN APPENDIX IS A DOCUMENT PREPARED BY WAYNE COUNTY AND INTENDED AS AN AID TO OTHER JURISDICTIONS: 'A SEQUENTIAL PLAN OF IMPLEMENTATION' IS A DETAILED, STEP-BY-STEP DISCUSSION OF THE ONE DAY/ONE TRIAL SYSTEM. THE SECOND APPENDIX IS A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SELECTED READINGS ON THE SUBJECT OF JURY MANAGEMENT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...ELW