Study Urges Improved Conditions for Jurors : Legal system: A special county panel says treatment is shabby at courthouses. The report predicts that unless reforms are made, fewer people will serve.

After a five-month study, a special Los Angeles County commission has concluded that jurors in the Superior Court are treated so shoddily that an immediate overhaul of the system must be undertaken to deter further decline.

In a 42-page draft report, the county Economy and Efficiency Commission found that jurors “have the lowest priority in the judicial system when it comes to concern for their treatment and funding for their services and facilities.”

It said, “All too often jury service in Los Angeles County . . . is characterized by . . . frustration, wasted time, uncomfortable and unattractive facilities, a lack of information to adequately understand the process and the failure to recognize the sacrifices involved in the performance of jury service.”

Perhaps not surprisingly, the commission launched its study after several members had recently served on jury duty. “Each expressed concern about the treatment of citizens (called for jury duty),” the report stated.

But while jury service has lately become the butt of jokes, the commission concluded that poor treatment of jurors is becoming a serious problem.

“The courts . . . must ensure that anyone performing such a service is treated with the utmost respect and is provided adequate facilities to fulfill his/her responsibilities,” the report concluded. “Without such appreciation, fewer and fewer citizens will be willing to perform such service to the ultimate detriment of the justice system.”

In preparing the report, the commission staff drew on studies done by other jurisdictions and professional organizations, such as the American Bar Assn. and the National Center for State Courts. Staffers also interviewed court officials in counties around the state and across the country.

The commission’s report, which is scheduled for final approval next week, offered 45 recommendations to improve the jury system.

The recommendations ranged from public relations efforts to improve the image of jury service, to providing child care at the courthouses, improving pay for jurors, allowing jurors to pick the court where they wish to serve and scaling back the number of times a citizen can be called for service to once every four years.

The list suggests improving directions for jurors on how to find the courthouses and parking lots and to “repair or replace the water supply equipment . . . to ensure acceptable drinking water to jurors.”

Some of the recommendations could be costly to implement and the commission has suggested funding sources, including seeking “civic-minded companies to assist in upgrading jury facilities.” Another recommendation encourages the use of welfare recipients to help with maintenance and repair of facilities.

The problems of jury service appear so deep-seated that the commission has recommended adoption of a “jurors’ bill of rights” to define the rights and responsibilities of jurors..

Among the basic rights advocated by the commission: “that jurors are to be treated at all times with courtesy and respect by judges, attorneys and court personnel.”

The commissioners found something else they say can really improve the experience for most citizens: to actually sit on a jury.

“Courts have found that citizens who actually serve on a jury are far more likely to find the experience a satisfying exercise of one of their civic responsibilities,” the report said.