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Remote Jury Operations
Digitized respond-by-web and respond-by-phone jury technologies reduces paper and clerical work (i.e., limiting the need for additional staff) improves overall response rates (i.e., summoning fewer jurors) and reduces time spent by jurors in the courthouse (i.e., relieving congestion) is advancing in many states. Offering more efficient avenues for jurors to respond and manage their jury duty - including providing personal data, educating themselves about the role and responsibilities of a juror, managing their time in reporting and serving, and providing feedback – via technology has proven to promote staff and space savings.
"King County Superior Court has received local and national attention for its ability to resume jury trials through innovations in our jury management. Given the size of our county, it was determined early on that postponing jury trials indefinitely while waiting for the pandemic to resolve was not reasonable. As a result, jury service looks different, including remote juror selection by video. Potential jurors are instructed not to come to the courthouse in person. Instead, they wait until they have received information directly from a bailiff about the actual location, date, and time in-person presence is required. Contact may be made by email, phone, text, or USPS mail.
Planning to resume jury trials was an ongoing process. Still, it could not be implemented until August of 2020, when the Washington State Supreme Court lifted the suspension of in-person jury trials. When COVID case numbers increased in the fall of 2020, it was determined that civil trials would remain remote for the actual trial as well. Criminal trials utilized remote jury selection and then, once impaneled, continued with in-person jurors and appropriate social distancing. The new modified process has now been in place for over a year. "
Increased juror participation and a more diverse jury pool through remote technology.
Technology (IVR, Internet) certainly can assist in canceling jurors assigned to later start times through "call out" options that can provide text, email, and telephone summoned jurors to inform them they need not report. Judges and judicial staff should strive for accuracy in specifying the time they expect to begin voir dire. Last-minute settlements are sometimes unavoidable, but they will confound improved jury management where they proliferate. To the extent feasible, judges on a jury trial calendar should preselect regular, staggered start times.
