STATISTICAL STUDIES OF THE COSTS OF SIX-MAN VERSUS TWELVE-MAN JURIES

• NCJ Number: 13538
• Journal: William and Mary Law Review Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: (WINTER 1972) Pages: 326-336
• Author(s): W R PABST
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Statistics
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: REPRINT

Annotation

ANALYSIS OF TIME PERIODS REQUIRED TO LITIGATE CIVIL CASES IN THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF SIX-MAN JURIES.

Abstract

THE AUTHOR CONCLUDES FROM HIS STATISTICAL STUDY THAT ALTHOUGH REDUCING JURY SIZE FROM TWELVE TO SIX RESULTS IN A DIRECT SAVING IN THE TOTAL JUROR MAN-HOURS REQUIRED TO CONDUCT A TRIAL, IT DOES NOT RESULT IN A CORRESPONDING SAVING IN THE TIME REQUIRED TO EMPANEL AND SELECT A JURY BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY OVERHEAD TIME INVOLVED IN JURY SELECTION. THE STATISTICS DISCLOSE VIRTUALLY NO REDUCTION IN TIME SPENT TO EMPANEL A JURY OR TO TRY A CASE WHEN THE SIX-MAN JURY IS USED. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A SAVING OF DIRECT LABOR, THE NATURE OF THE JUROR SELECTION SYSTEM INDICATES THAT THE OVERALL SAVINGS MAY BE RELATED MORE TO THE SIZE OF THE PANELS RATHER THAN TO INCREASED EFFICIENCY AND REDUCTION IN JUROR HOURS.