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Saturday, October 20, 2007

Ind. Courts - More on "Marion Superior Court judges plan to start cracking down on prospective jurors who don't show up on the days they're assigned"

"Marion Superior Court judges plan to start cracking down on prospective jurors who don't show up on the days they're assigned" was the headline to an Indianapolis Star story quoted by the ILB on May 7th.

Now, nearing six months later, we learn that they really mean it -- starting this coming Monday, according to this story by Jon Murray in this morning's Star. Really. Here are some quotes:

Marion County judges have been threatening for years to crack down on jury duty no-shows, but this time they're serious.

If you've been called for jury duty Monday in Marion County, you better show up.

Fail to report then, and another court date will be in your future as part of a campaign aimed at no-shows -- a chronic problem in Marion Superior Court, where more than half of those called skip out.

The court will begin sending scofflaws a summons calling them to a court hearing, where they will face a judge and receive a new date for jury duty.

If they fail to show up for jury service a second time, judges will issue arrest warrants and could hold them in contempt of court, giving them community service or even jail time. * * *

State law requires jurors to show up, but enforcement has been lax in Marion County for years. Last year, only 52 percent of prospective jurors showed up on an assigned day; to meet the courts' needs, the jury pool has adapted during the years by calling in double the number requested by courts, hoping to get enough people in the door.

In other words, your name is called to a jury pool twice as often because the Marion courts have not been cracking down on those who ignore their jury calls. See this ILB entry from Dec. 29, 2006.

More from the story:

The General Assembly this year removed the limit of three days in jail for jury duty no-shows, allowing judges to hold them in contempt of court and mete out longer sentences. But Stoner said crowding in the Marion County Jail makes a jail sentence unlikely.

The judge is adamant that nobody will be able to pay a fine to avoid jury service, making community service more likely for repeat offenders.

Lake County many send at least some errant potential jurors to jail, according to this ILB entry from Dec. 24, 2005 and this entry from June 16, 2006.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on October 20, 2007 10:17 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts