Full day trials in Humboldt County?
Usually, jury trials are held from 8:30 a.m. to noon in Humboldt Superior Court.
There have been afternoon jury trials such as the Benjamin Carter case.
There was some mention this morning during trial assignment about a full day trial in Courtroom 1.
Judge Marilyn Miles had mentioned if the Jason Arreaga jury trial is not on schedule, they would consider going to full days.
On Monday's calendar, only the Jason Warren case is scheduled for Courtroom 4. Could the Warren trial go all days as well? I guess I will have to wait until Monday to find out.
Looks like those restructuring changes at Humboldt Superior Court are starting.
The last time I pulled jury duty I was rather shocked to discover the trial would be held on half days. I'd just assume get the process over with rather than spreading the trial over that many more days.
ReplyDeleteIt can't be very efficient... starting up and closing down for the day takes time and is doubled this way.
Who's idea was this anyway?
MOLA, that is a very good question. One I was planning to ask the former CEO. Since I moved here, that is the schedule they have had.
DeleteYour comment about efficiency is a very good point.
I was wondering when they started doing this. There was about 20 years between my three previous jury duties and my fourth with the half days (in Humboldt). I pulled jury duty in Sonoma County and they were doing full days but that's now a few years ago too.
DeleteHow widespread is this practice? Is it done for the convenience of the jurors or for the courts?
It's something I plan to look into when I don't have three simultaneous jury trials and afternoon followup cases.
DeleteMy experience is similar to yours but before Humboldt, I was a juror in Atlanta so different state.
It has been in place for close to 20 years, and was the regular practice upon my arrival in 2006. The Judges always remind Jurors (and of course John knows this) that Courts are of course busy with their calendars, arraignments, sentencings, pre-trials and intervention hearings in the afternoon. I am sure unless told some jurors might think they are only really working 1/2 day which would be a nice gig. I have never seen any Court in CA do this. In Humboldt you would have to designate trial departments who would do nothing but trials and calendaring departments who do all other work because the trials would interrupt. If one of these trials under the current system goes full day then other Courts would have to pick up the slack and handle that Court's afternoon calendar. The Judges all say Juries love this system. They can in some respects work half days. Moms (or dads) can pick up kids at school. By definition it makes trials twice as long. If you went to a full day system you would have to make a dramatic change. This underscores the real problem which is Humboldt is short 2 judges.
ReplyDeleteAllan, I am not at liberty to diclose the new trial schedule, which maybe temporary but it seems there will be some full day trials and some restructing of calendars. Could be temporary.
DeleteJurors are lost due to length of trials and you know once an alternate steps in, sometimes during deliberations, the process starts all over.
In Humboldt, they take oral pleas instead of forms being prepared. Things could be organized where arraignments and cases just resetting and confirming could be called first instead of accomodating long last minute sentencings.
Two judges would help but so would some changes which are coming. Right now lawyers are in trial in the morning and same lawyers doing afternoon calendars.
I would rather serve all day for a shorter length then go on for three months with dark days and breaks.
And jury duty should be paid by all employers. We lose a larger jury pool because very few people pay for any jury duty. Even upto a week or two would help.
I was aware of the reasons for the current system but not completely sure so thanks for sharing.
they have to do something. Gallegos left such a mess, and so many trials piled up, it's going to take extraordinary measures to clean it up.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention that the rate of crimes occurring and having to maintain due process. The Judges and court staff locally do an amazing job given the resources and budget.
ReplyDeleteClogging up the courts for drunk in public and camping violations adds to the court calendar. Just like homeless court and early resolution has helped, maybe we could find a solution for the kind of cases above.