Grand Jury

I disagree with the lawyers in “Grand Jury Challengers Would Bar Local Judges” (April 4). Having volunteered three times, 1993-95, my name was blindly drawn from a drum containing approximately 230 names together with 49 other names, 40 for the 23 seats and 10 alternates for the four alternate seats. Prior to the above I was interviewed by Superior Court judges in the jury assembly room in the Criminal Courts Building. While there I saw many of the minorities mentioned in the article, and when I went to each drawing of my three attempts, I also saw many of the minorities who had been interviewed when I was.

The Los Angeles County Grand Jury is strictly a volunteer position. If one makes an effort to serve, he or she will eventually be lucky and be drawn from the pool. I do not believe that “minorities and Latinos are being discriminated against during the selection process.”

The 1995-96 grand jury had five African Americans, two Latinos, one American Indian and 15 Caucasians--which included 11 of the Jewish faith (unusual), one of which included me. And I know something about discrimination.

DAVID PETERS

Beverly Hills