Jury Duty

* Re “Our Civic Obligation Is on Trial,” Commentary June 18:

Judge Gary Klausner failed to mention one of the more obvious reasons many disregard a jury summons. Many of those asked to serve remember the two wasted weeks from previous jury duty, and the frustration of invariably being dismissed for one of the following silly reasons:

They or one of their family are with police or prosecutors. They or family members have been victims of a crime. They or one of their family were once involved in civil litigation. They or their family attended law school. Indication of a background involving logic, as engineering or accounting. Indication of being an independent thinker--not easily manipulated. Even a glimmer of intelligence often excludes one.

Usually, knowledge and intelligence, qualities that would certainly provide better jurors, cause qualified jurors to be rejected by attorneys.

GLEN BUCHANAN

Sherman Oaks