Jury Reform

Your Jan. 20 editorial, “The Price Tag of Jury Reform,” seems a most tepid suggestion to a bureaucratic system that is a considerable failure. A 6% show by residents of L.A. County demonstrates the lack of interest in a duty labeled an honor and privilege. Honor and privilege are obviously misnomers.

Jury duty is a burden and hardship for most, beyond the fact that an autocratic authority has adapted Orwellian tactics to acquire even a 6% show. A jury questionnaire now includes dire warnings and threats of significant fines to assure jury duty conscription. A very oppressive method and contradiction, to assure that others receive fairness and justice. The system is also extremely wasteful of human resources and finance. Shelve the system, for it is time for radical reform.

D.J. PONDER

Torrance