LANSING -- State Representative Bettie Cook Scott (D-Detroit) today voiced her support for reforming the way that juries are chosen in Michigan, in order to ensure that juries consist of well-informed individuals and that all residents have access to an unbiased jury of their peers.
Scott made her comments following a hearing on HB 4859 in the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. Currently, a jury board selects jurors from a list that combines the names of people holding a driver's license or state ID card. HB 4859 would require the list to also include registered voters and individuals who have filed a state income tax return.
"This legislation will broaden the jury pool with candidates who have already identified themselves as citizens who are active in the democratic process, by including people who have registered to vote," Scott said. "However, I have reservations including people who have filed an income tax return, social service recipients and unemployment recipients for reasons of duplication, over-processing and privacy issues. All these proposals are tie-barred to HB 4859."
Scott stressed the importance of educating students about the importance of serving on a jury, and the need to work with community groups, social organizations and churches about having their members buy into the process of becoming prospective jurors.
Scott is also pushing the idea to have the compensation for jury duty upped to $100, noting that many employers do not compensate employees who are forced to take time off for jury duty.
"My hope is that we can reinvigorate civic pride in our residents and reiterate the importance of juries, the judicial process and having a jury of their peers," Scott said. "We need to bring in open-minded individuals who take pride in exercising the vital civic obligation of jury duty, which is an added protection for all."