County jury duty – there's an app for that
The aggravations of jury duty will be slightly lessened starting this summer when the county rolls out a modernized system.
The civic duty is getting a modern restructuring next month, when people selected for jury duty will be able to complete the process online or on their smart phones. Currently, people selected for jury duty receive a letter in the mail that is indistinguishable from other letters, such as bills or advertisement promotions.
Under the new system, people will receive a postcardlike notification with one side blazed in yellow with the words “official juror notification,” so that people won't miss it. But unlike before, respondents don't have to mail the questionnaire back. Instead, they can go online, use a smart phone or go through an automated phone line option.
For those who don't opt into the new system, the old method will still apply with mailed letter notifications. Inside, prospective jurors will receive a paper copy of the questionnaire to which they must respond within 10 days.
As part of the new system, potential jurors will be sent a text reminder on their summoning date. The system would also notify them if jury selection is canceled. According to a prepared statement, the system would save the county money related to paper, postage, supplies and employee time.
“It's important to do this because we want to make it easier for jurors to fulfill their obligations,” said Judge William Shaffer, who oversaw the change as the court's administrator. “The other realization was that people are communicating differently in the 21st century. This is a way to meet them there.”
Shaffer said that the move is part of an effort by the court to improve the jury selection process.
“We've been trying to streamline the process and this is just the latest step,” Shaffer said.
Those who complete the jury process will be off the potential pool of jurors for three years. Per state regulation, jurors are given $9 per day and compensated for mileage. Potential jurors are gathered from driver and voter registration information.
