The process of jury management should be simple: take some names from a list and summon those persons to serve as jurors. However, questions remain: - Which list provides the best cross-section of the population?
- Is the selection method random?
- How long should people serve on the jury?
- How can courts make it feasible for all persons to serve?
- How much should jurors be paid for this civic duty?
- Are courts using the time of summoned citizens wisely?
- What should be done when people do not respond?
These are some of the important questions addressed by jury management.
The use of technology for jury system support is the most obvious use of technology in the courts. From executing simple selection methods and preparing the summons, to providing management information and allowing jurors to respond via the Internet, many technological advances enhance jury management.
Jury management is an important area for courts. The entire process, from compiling master lists to summoning potential jurors to debriefing jurors after trial, can be long and involved, fraught with constitutional and public-policy issues and complicated logistics. Defendants have a Sixth Amendment right to a jury of their peers. The jury pool (though not necessarily the selected jurors) must represent a cross-section of the community.
The National Center for State Courts’ Center for Jury Studies addresses jury issues from a number of angles, including offering courses and resources on managing juries day-to-day or in notorious trials, as well as research and state-by-state rules and practices.
