| 43 |
COURTS SHOULD ADMINISTER AN ANONYMOUS QUESTIONNAIRE TO A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE OF PEOPLE CALLED FOR JURY SERVICE TO MONITOR JUROR REACTION TO JURY SERVICE AND TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF JUROR DISSATISFACTION. |
Usefulness of
Juror Feedback |
Consistent and regular use of juror exit questionnaires provides the court with useful feedback. Jurors’ responses can identify problems such as excessive waiting time for jurors and uncomfortable waiting rooms. This information will help courts improve juror satisfaction and the efficiency of jury administration.
|
Designing and
Administering
Questionnaires |
The court need not administer a questionnaire to all jurors called for jury duty. The court should, however, administer a questionnaire on a regular basis to a representative sample of people called for service, including members not selected, members challenged and excused, alternates, and jurors who deliberate. The questionnaire should require fixed rather than open-ended responses. A sample questionnaire can be found in Appendix 8. |
Completed
Questionnaires |
The questionnaire should be completed by jurors before they leave the court facility. The completed questionnaires are not public records, but rather will be used by the court, through its jury committee or court staff, to identify areas needing improvement. |
| |
References:
A.B.A. Jury Standard 12.
Washington Jury Standard 12 (3rd ed. 1997) (identical to the A.B.A.’s standard).
Brookings Institution, Charting a Future for the Civil Jury System: A Report from an American Bar Association/Brookings Symposium 30 (1992).
G. Thomas Munsterman, Jury System Management (National Center for State Courts, 1996).
G. Thomas Munsterman, et al., Jury Trial Innovations, 209-10 (3rd ed. 1997).
|
