Treating Jurors With Respect

* On Dec. 2, I received a jury summons to the Santa Monica court-house for today. I will go and sit in the courthouse, waiting for the unlikely chance that I will be called. I will not be going because of the widely advertised fines; I will not be going because of the legal threats that the court can impose; the $5-per-day compensation will not affect my decision. I will be going because I respect the principle of trial by jury. Why then, can’t the court offer more respect to me as a juror? Why, for example, should I be given such ridiculously short notice to rearrange my medical lab schedule, to cancel my teaching commitments and all other appointments for an unknown duration? There are alternatives:

The court could spend a small amount of money and set up either a Web site or a voice messaging service that allowed jurors to propose personally realistic court dates. The court could send the standard personal information forms directly to the jurors that we otherwise fill out in the courthouse, thereby allowing the court to excuse jurors who would not be allowed to serve anyway. The courts could offer a choice of locations at which to serve, so that jurors could select a courthouse that is closer to work or home.

These are a very few simple solutions to a small number of problems. The more important change will be for the courts to give back to the jurors the respect that the jurors must give to the court.

MARK S. COHEN

Los Angeles

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Re “Reluctant Jurors Deliver the Verdict--in Absentia,” Dec. 3:

Patt Morrison’s column hit home on the feelings of many who have served their time in the jury box. The reasons given by citizens who “do not find anything in jury service but . . .” are all valid. However, I do not encourage those who receive the questionnaire to dispose of (recycle) it.

Jury service is by no means enjoyable, but if it is something that we are faced with doing, is there not a more effective system?

MARISA A. REYES

Pasadena