Reluctant Jurors Face Fines

In the July 9 Times: An item states that the Los Angeles Superior Court is planning to impose $1,500 fines in an effort to force people to do what they don’t want to do--serve on juries.

Another item states that a defendant in Long Beach Municipal Court, who was acting as his own attorney, was zapped by an electrical gadget attached to his waist in an effort to make him shut up.

The $1,500 fines may produce extra revenue for the Superior Court, but they’ll do nothing to make reluctant jurors more objective, fair and attentive. In fact, they will probably do the opposite.

As for the electrical gadget, why not put them on all defense attorneys? Prosecuting attorneys, too. And why not on judges? They all talk too much. Jurors could have control of the zap button. Cases would become much, much shorter that way.

JERRY D. CHANEY

Long Beach

* To all jury dodgers: Have you ever thought of being stuck in jail abroad for no other reason than you are an American citizen or belong to another political or religious affiliation, or simply were caught in a government demonstration? Where would you turn? Do you know that in many countries you would have no recourse whatsoever, would not be judged by your peers, or would be judged by a jury loaded against you?

I became an American by choice, understanding the privileges and duties it implied. When I was summoned to be on a jury in Long Beach, I felt honored and promptly forgot the inconvenience it would entail. To be part of the process of the justice in this country is to me the epitome of a democratic constitutional system.

GHISLAINE ILIFF

Long Beach