SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVING JUROR UTILIZATION IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

• NCJ Number: 14553
• Author(s): W A Stoever
• Date Published: 1971
• Length: 98 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Federal Judicial Ctr
• Corporate Author: New York University
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A PROPOSED SYSTEM FOR CUTTING DOWN THE EXCESS OF JURORS CALLED INTO THE COURTHOUSE OVER THE NUMBER WHO ARE ACTUALLY REQUIRED TO MEET THE JUDGES' NEEDS.

Abstract

THE PROPOSED SYSTEM IS BASED ON A FOUR-MONTH STUDY OF THE NUMBER AND TIMING OF PANELS ACTUALLY SENT TO VOIR DIRES COMPARED TO THE NUMBER AND TIMING OF PANELS ORDERED BY JUDGES. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TOTAL NUMBER OF JURORS ORDERED BY THE JUDGES FOR A GIVEN DAY WAS ALMOST ALWAYS MUCH LARGER THAN THE NUMBER WHICH IS ACTUALLY NEEDED FOR VOIR DIRES. THE STUDY REVEALED THAT THERE IS A NATURAL SPREAD OF TRIAL STARTING TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY, AND GUIDELINES ARE PRESENTED IN THIS REPORT WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS NATURALLY-OCCURRING SPREAD. REDUCTIONS IN THE NUMBER OF JURORS CALLED AND IN THE SIZE OF PANEL SENT TO CRIMINAL AND CIVIL VOIR DIRES ARE PROPOSED TO REDUCE COSTS AND WASTED TIME OF JURORS. SUGGESTIONS FOR APPLICATION OF THIS SYSTEM ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)