Jury Reform

Re “Commission Goes Too Far With Jury System Reform,” editorial, May 5: Your fears of the commission’s proposals are totally and unequivocally unjustified.

Over the past 30 years I have served on 10 juries in Los Angeles County. There was not one jury in which I participated that some of the jurors never considered the evidence or testimony. They speculated, guessed and created their own scenarios as to what might have occurred.

I do believe, contrary to your views, that predeliberations would benefit all jurors by clarifying views related to the evidence or testimony. I believe it will prevent, rather than encourage, jurors to make prejudgments or reach conclusions prior to final deliberations.

My own experience shows that it is not how long a jury deliberates, but how it uses, or doesn’t wish to use, the evidence, testimony and the judge’s admonitions and instructions.

The potential results from a reformed jury system will hopefully be an enormous reduction in time and costs to the county,

BENNY WASSERMAN

La Palma