Real Malibu

BY BILL KOENEKER

If people think that they are receiving jury duty notices more frequently than in the past, they’re right. If anyone thinks that it’s more difficult to get out of jury duty, they’re right. If they think they can totally ignore jury duty notices, they’re wrong.
As part of the Los Angeles Superior Court’s coordinated program to encourage voluntary participation in jury service, Judge Gerald Rosenberg will convene juror sanction hearings for West District citizens who did not respond to jury service notices mailed on three separate occasions to their last known address, according to county officials.
The sanction hearings begin in January on three separate dates. The jurors, who were mailed notices in the West District, are among thousands who face stiff fines, plus new jury service assignment, county officials noted.
“Sanctions are a last resort, but even at that late date, monetary sanctions may not be imposed if a person agrees to serve. The court’s priority is having the people cooperate with us to ensure that jury service is shared by all eligible citizens in the Los Angeles County, as mandated by the Legislature,” said Presiding Judge Charles W. McCoy Jr. “The court has no interest whatsoever in using these sanctions as a source of money.”
County officials noted because a 1999 court rule established one trial jury service, jurors now summoned for jury duty need only be present at a courthouse for a single day of jury selection. Although members of a jury panel may be asked to return the following day, all others in the jury assembly room will be excused at the end of the day with their jury duty obligation completed for a least 12 months.
If chosen for a jury however, according to county officials, a juror must serve until the case is completed.