No contempt orders for no-show jurors
Judge says he knew most of them just forgot, grants them chance to serve another month
Excuses were few from people who appeared Friday before Juneau's presiding judge to show why they shouldn't be held in contempt for not showing up when called for a recent jury selection.
"I'd just like to apologize for not being here," Scott Damian told Superior Court Judge Larry Weeks. "I'm just an airhead."
Weeks said he knew that most of them simply forgot to call to check if they were required to come to court during their August jury service. Weeks said he knew that most of them are conscientious.
"I know you all have things going on," he told them.
Weeks told the 24 people who showed up for the 8:30 a.m. hearing that he wouldn't hold any of them in contempt of court and would give them a chance to serve another month.
However, he issued arrest warrants for four people summoned to be at the hearing who didn't show up and weren't determined to have an excuse before the hearing. The warrants, due to go out if the court didn't hear from people at the close of business Friday, would require them to post $1,000 bail to be released from the Lemon Creek Correctional Center.
Contempt of court, which can include not showing up to court when called as a prospective juror, carries a penalty of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $300.
Weeks scheduled another hearing for this week for people summoned after not showing up for August jury service. Yet another hearing for no-shows will be held this week before Juneau District Judge Peter B. Froehlich.
Some people were excused from Friday's hearing. Four were determined to have moved and two were determined to have been on vacation. One, inflicted with hepatitis, was excused for medical reasons. Another was found to be lodged at the state prison.
Citizens 18 and older are randomly chosen from the list of people applying for Alaska Permanent Fund dividends. Every night, for a month, they should call the court to learn if they are among people required to show up for jury selection.
Weeks said presiding judges in Alaska are talking about sponsoring legislation that would withhold dividends from people who don't show up when called for jury service.
Steve Brockmann told the judge he would serve in February. He said that during his August jury service, his group was called twice and waited in court.
Weeks stressed the importance of showing up in court when called as prospective jurors. People coming before the court deserve their cases to be heard by a cross-section of the community, he said.
He pointed to a $12 million verdict awarded by a Juneau jury on Thursday. Most cases, though, are not as complex, he added.
"Most of our trials go one day," he said. "Most (people called for jury selection) don't end up serving as a juror at all."
October was the most popular month to repeat jury service among people at Friday's hearing . Assistant Public Defender Eric Hedland said he could do jury service in November, except for when he has a trial scheduled.
Albert Dick, the last person to address the judge, said he was hoping to be exempt.
"I don't see any kind of case I would be good in," he said. "I would always find in favor of the defendant."
"You need to show up, though," Weeks told him.