Streamlining Jury Duty

How timely your editorial, “Slow Road to Jury Reform” (Sept. 28).

At that time, I happened to be in a jury assembly room in the Bellflower court. This experience at this particular court is an excellent example of why citizens become so frustrated with the jury process. I began my service on Sept. 16 and Oct. 1 was my last day, having completed 10 full days of jury duty. Unlike other courts, we were required to show up in person each day (with the exception of two) and sit around, in some cases until 5 p.m. Other than two days, I was not called. On the last day I served, the court tried to convince seven of us that we had to come back for an 11th day of service. After 30 minutes of angry exchanges, the jury room administrator called a judge to get clearance. Thank goodness the judge knew the law.

I know from prior experience, as well as talking with others who have had jury duty at other courts, that the situation we were thrown into at the Bellflower court is abnormal. Any other court would have let us call in each day so that we could have gone about our daily activities.

As you mention in your editorial, a streamlined approach works in 21 other counties. What we experienced in Bellflower was inefficient, unproductive and demeaning with the way we were treated.

STEWART C. ROSS

La Habra Heights

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Your editorial failed to mention that jurors still get $5 per day, just like in 1966!

MAURICE SUHRE

Redondo Beach