Though jury duty is 'dreaded', most enjoy it, survey reveals

Monday, 14 August 2000
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
http://www.azstarnet.com/public/dnews/000814nJuryduty.html

BOSTON - Jury duty - words often spoken in the same anguished tone as "root canal" - may not be as painful as commonly thought.

A Boston newspaper for attorneys surveyed jurors and found that once they were involved in the case, they generally enjoyed weighing the evidence and took the judgment of their peers seriously.

More than 80 percent of respondents to the poll, published in today's edition of Lawyers Weekly, said the experience was positive, and some said it renewed their faith in the legal system.

Publisher David L. Yas was surprised by the results of the survey, which he said was the first of its kind.

"Most people dread jury duty," Yas said. "What we found is that once people get in there, they're intrigued by the case, energized by jury duty, and overall find duty quite positive."

In Massachusetts, it is illegal for attorneys to speak with jurors even after a court case, so the survey was administered by judges.

With the permission of State Jury Commissioner Frank Davis and Superior Court Chief Justice Suzanne V. DelVecchio, 30 judges gave out surveys to jurors in superior court cases. About 130 people responded. All responses were voluntary and anonymous.

The cases ranged from contract disputes to medical malpractice to first degree murder. One involved a lawsuit about a dog biting another dog.

The survey asked an array of questions about courtroom tactics, the condition of the courthouse, the appearance and demeanor of lawyers and court employees, the use of witnesses and exhibits, and jurors' overall impression of the system.

Respondents reported not sleeping at night because of the gravity of the case, feeling proud of being part of the justice system, and finding the process to be a learning experience.

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