End of Exemptions for Judges, Lawyers, Doctors, Dentists?

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

The panel, appointed by the Nevada Supreme Court, has suggested ending a long list of jury duty exemptions.

The suggestions go to the state Supreme Court for review and also to the governor's office and the Legislature for consideration.

The committee was created by the state Supreme Court after riots in Las Vegas that were sparked by the Rodney King beating verdict in Los Angeles. The aim of the committee was to identify racial and economic biases within the state's justice system.

Danny Gonzales, committee executive director, said Nevada has the longest list of automatic exemptions of any state in the country. The list also includes locomotive engineers and other railroad workers, police officers and prison officials, certain elected county officials and employees of the Legislature.

Half of all states have eliminated all exemptions, allowing exemptions instead on a case-by-case basis. Eliminating exemptions would created "a more diverse and more inclusive jury pool," Gonzales said.

Kevin Kelly, a Las Vegas attorney who serves as committee chairman, said the goal is to "eliminate any factors that would actually create a bias, or give the perception of a prejudice or bias."

Kelly said there is a perception that "the system is catering to some, to the exclusion of others, that we do not have a neutral setting."

The Task Force for the Study of Racial and Economic Bias in the Justice System is made up of representatives of law enforcement, the justice system, academia and the minority community.