Courts Summon Dogs and the Dead For Jury Service

California’s Jury Justice System summon dogs and the dead.
Though jury duty is an obligation as a Californian, many people make excuses or simply do not show for jury service.

In "A Look at California Juries," Daniel Klerman, law professor at the University of Southern California, showed how our system is truly troubled.

In California jury summons are based on lists from the Department of Motor Vehicles, which doesn’t keep accurate, up to date records of who is eligible, and qualified, to serve on a jury. This results in dead people and dogs being called upon to serve on juries.

*Other represents undeliverable summonses, excused or disqualified participants and postponements.

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