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Before February, jurors were drawn from the roughly 600,000
registered voters in Palm Beach County. But the number of potential
jurors was actually smaller: People 70 or older do not have to serve.
And 36 percent of county voters are 65 or older.
Officials estimated last year that the county had about 480,000
eligible jurors.
Now, the roughly 700,000 adult drivers in the county who are
citizens are eligible for jury duty. About 134,000 are 70 or older
and don't have to serve. That leaves about 566,000 potential jurors -
minus any felons.
How potential jurors
are screened
1. Non-citizens and minors are removed from computer tape of
licensed drivers in Palm Beach County.
2. Court officials check the names on the tape against state and
county records of people who have died, been convicted of a felony or
declared mentally incompetent. These people are excluded from jury duty.
3. A court computer randomly selects potential jurors' names from
the tape, and they receive a summons in the mail.
4. Summoned jury candidates are sworn in by jury manager Arlene
Goodman. She questions candidates to make sure no ineligible people
have slipped through the computer screening. She also asks whether
potential jurors have trouble understanding English. A person who has
a working understanding of English or asks to serve joins the jury
pool and is sent to a courtroom; a judge makes the final decision on
whether the candidate qualifies to serve.
People are who hearing-impaired may serve with the aid of special
equipment. Deaf and blind people are almost always excused.
5. Jury candidates are called to a courtroom for possible service
on a trial. A judge again questions them to screen out felons,
non-citizens and people declared mentally incompetent.
If you ignore a jury
duty notice
The first time, court officials send you another one with a new
reporting date.
If you ignore the second notice, Palm Beach County's chief judge
signs an order requiring you to appear in court to explain why you
did not respond.
If you ignore that order, you are subject to a $100 fine and the
chief judge may issue a warrant for your arrest for contempt of
court. People found in contempt could be sent to jail until they
agree to serve.
You're excused if . . .
1. You no longer live in Palm Beach County.
2. You are a felon whose civil rights have not been restored or
you face prosecution for a crime.
3. You are not a citizen.
You may request
excusal from jury duty if . . .
1. You are 70 or older.
2. You are physically unable to serve or you care for someone else
who is medically incapacitated.
3. You are an expectant mother or a parent who does not
work full time and you have custody of a child under 6.
4. You are a full-time law enforcement officer.
Comments on the system
"I've actually had people make statements like they presume
the defendant to be guilty - just to get out of serving as a
juror." -- Jack Fleischman, attorney
"By and large, a person who takes the time to register to
vote is probably a little more conscientious, a little more
interested in government." -- Palm
Beach County Chief Judge Walter Colbath
No-shows
People who didn't respond to two
summonses for jury duty in September
Number who failed to respond: 124
Number registered to vote in Palm Beach County: 60 (48.4%)
Number not registered to vote: 64** (51.6%)
** Four registered to vote outside of Palm Beach County and three
others moved out of Palm Beach County.
SOURCES: Palm Beach County court officials and documents, Palm
Beach County elections officials.
JURORS THEN AND NOW
The Post examined how jury candidates have changed since Florida
made all adult drivers eligible for jury duty. Before Feb. 17, every
juror was a registered voter. Overall, there are few difference
between the two groups:
|
Jury candidates summoned then
(all voters)
|
Jury candidates summoned now
(all drivers)
|
|
white*
|
90.1% |
89.6% |
|
black
|
9.9% |
10.4% |
|
served on jury
|
34% |
31% |
|
arrest record
|
7.5% |
9.6% |
Within the driver-license group summoned for jury duty this year,
the differences between registered voters and non-voters were greater:
|
Voters
|
Drivers
|
|
median age
|
47
|
36 |
|
white*
|
90% |
8% |
|
black
|
10% |
12% |
|
median household income
|
$51,697 |
$45,018 |
|
completed high school
|
85% |
80% |
|
college degree
|
22% |
18% |
|
arrest record
|
8.8% |
10.5% |
An analysis of 481 people
called for jury duty under the new system found that most were voters:
Non-voters - 95 (20%)
Voters - 386 (80%)
*Includes Hispanics and Asians.
Sources: Palm Beach County court and
elections records, U.S. census data, driver license records.
*how we did
it
*main story
*top |
