Jury changes are in lawmakers’ court

Erica D. Johnson

Friday, Feb. 28, 2003 | 5:10 a.m.

A year's worth of work aimed at improving the jury system is coming to its conclusion during the legislative session, as the work of the Jury Improvement Commission makes it way into law as Senate Bill 73.

The bill, which was passed unanimously by the Senate on Thursday, outlines suggestions such as increasing jurors' pay and eliminating occupational exemptions from jury duty. It goes to the Assembly next.

Other proposed changes, such as managing caseloads more efficiently to expedite jury trials, will be addressed by the Nevada Supreme Court.

While the proposed changes are still in the beginning stages, Bill Gang, a spokesman for the court, said he is hopeful the committee's suggested improvements will be approved.

"Legislatures have always had a great concern for people who serve on juries," Gang said. "They always try to do what's reasonable and fair for them given the constraints of finances. We expect them to be fair and equitable in these issues as well."

The suggestions came in light of a national jury summit in New York City, in which delegates from jurisdictions nationwide explored ways to reform the jury system.

Made up of justices, court administrators and attorneys, the committee conducted a year-long study on jury services in Clark and Washoe counties before releasing its 91-page report in October.

Among the commission's list of suggested improvements is more than doubling the amount jurors are paid daily, from $15 to $40.

By eliminating the current $9 appearance fee for jurors who aren't selected and eliminating mileage pay for jurors who commute less than 65 miles each way, the county would save about $380,000 per year, Gang said.

The committee also hopes to eliminate automatic exemptions of doctors, attorneys, law enforcement officers and railroad workers from jury service.

That change would make sure jurors are as inclusive and reflective of the population as possible, said Nevada Supreme Court Justice Deborah Agosti, who co-chaired the committee.

"The elimination will ensure that the jury pool litigants receive is reflective of all segments of society," she said.

But raising jurors' pay may not be so easy considering Nevada's bleak economic outlook, Agosti said.

"Tightening the budget is felt at the county level," she said. "But we've tried to tailor a plan that limits the financial impact."

The increase would bring Nevada up to the amounts jurors are paid in other cities, according to the report. New York pays its jurors $40 while Colorado and Massachusets pay $50.

Under the proposed changes, those who repeatedly ignore a jury summons will be "consistently and uniformly punished" by the chief judge. Punishment could include a $500 fine and 25 days in jail, Agosti said.

Clark County court officials send out a one time warning to people who fail to show up for service, Assistant Court Administrator Rick Loop said.

"We know things come up," he said. "Most people simply forget. We send them a notice and that usually takes care of almost everyone."

Clark County has not had a high number of people summoned fail to show up for service, Loop said.

Of the 50 to 300 people summoned each day, less than 10 percent fail to appear, Judy Rowland, the county's jury commissioner, said.

Washoe County had a 22 percent no-show rate in 2000, according to the Washoe County Jury Commissioner's office.

Anything the Legislature can do to make serving on a jury more comfortable and less burdensome should be done, Agosti said.

"Jury duty is the only time we call upon citizens and ask them to have a say in the lives of other people," she said. "That's a hugely important process."