Jury Duty

Your article on “Courthouse Deliberations” (May 15) paints a far rosier experience for prospective jurors than my current service as a juror at the Santa Monica courthouse. Show up and then wait, wait, wait over many days comprises the game most jurors face.

When I was finally selected for a panel (a jury pool for a specific case), the game changed to delay, delay, delay. Because of attorney schedules, we panelists were dismissed on a Monday and told to report again eight days later. How can I be an impartial juror with this kind of treatment? Do I wish to serve? No more. For three weeks I have put my life on hold and will have to continue in limbo for at least another week. If I am selected for this jury (likely to be a long case), I will effectively have put my life on hold for almost two months.

I am lucky since I am retired. But what about the other people in the pool who are employed? Their jobs do not go on hold. With today’s computer capabilities, there has to be a better way in organizing jury pools rather than having 150 to 200 individuals cooling their heels until the lawyers can finally show up.

JEANETTE RAGAN

Pacific Palisades