• In "A Look at California Juries," Daniel Klerman, law professor at the University of Southern California, reports that out of 8 million people who were summoned for jury duty in California, nearly 1.3 million Californians sought excuses for "hardship."

• While excuses ranged from medical disability to excessive travel time, the most common excuse was financial burden, which accounts for 36 percent of excuses in 2000 – the most recent year for which we have data. Because numerous employers do not pay employees who miss work for jury duty, it is difficult for many people to take time off when they are only compensated $15 a day.

*Other is comprised of those individuals who were excused for less common difficulties including excessive travel time or transportation difficulties.

Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse is a nonprofit, legal watchdog group whose mission is to educate consumers on the costs of lawsuit abuse in order to create a climate for common-sense legal reform, and serve as a watchdog group over those special interests who seek to abuse the system for financial gain at the expense of consumers.

For a copy of "A Look at California Juries" please call CALA at
(619) 295-6059.

 This page was last updated on 04/19/05  

© 2002 San Diego County Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse