Ind. Judge Orders 711 People to Come to Court to Explain Why They Didn't Complete Jury Questionnaire
An Indiana judge has created a stir by ordering 711 people to come to court to explain why they didn’t fill out jury questionnaires.
In fact, it appears that some did turn in the forms belatedly, and others may have moved out of state to go to school or work. However, they are obligated to turn in the questionnaire just the same and prove that they are not available for jury service, much as young men in wartime are required to register for the draft, St. Joseph Superior Court Judge Michael Scopelitis tells the South Bend Tribune.
Reaction ranged from praise for the judge to a complaint by one unidentified recipient of process requiring him to appear. He complained that 711 people were going to have to take time off from work simply so that Scopelitis could scold them.
“What people need to wrap their minds around is that this is a duty tied to a constitutional right,” says the judge, noting that the jury plays an important role in standing up for individual citizens against the power of government.
