It’s Time to Overhaul Jury Selection Process

I was recently summoned to appear for jury duty at the Van Nuys Courthouse for the first time. In spite of the impact of being away from my office, it was an interesting prospect to observe the court system in action and to do my civic duty.

Much to my chagrin, I discovered a process so cumbersome, uncaring and antiquated it was still in the 19th Century, if that. The jury room was, at any given time, filled with 100 to 200 other potential jurors sitting and waiting--reading, watching TV, talking, knitting--while an occasional panel was called and sent out. There seemed to be no consideration given to anything but having warm bodies on call when they might be needed, regardless of the inconvenience to those “bodies.”

There must be a more efficient way to have jurors available, and the county needs to come into the 20th Century and use the tools available in computers to determine cases pending, length of potential trials, a match of how long potential jurors can serve and so on, and then to institute a call-in system that allows jurors to be on call and to reach a recorded message that handles multiple calls. This would encourage people to participate in the process, cut traffic congestion and save employers and taxpayers money. Private industry must find efficient ways to avoid waste, and the court system should have to do the same.

It’s time we overhaul the jury selection process so that costs can be cut and potential jurors will be more willing to perform this vital service.

CHARLOTTE A. HUDGINS

Chatsworth