Wisconsin Lawyer
Vol. 80, No. 8, August 2007
Interesting jury statistics …
- The length of deliberations is most often slightly shorter in state courts than in federal courts. Connecticut had the longest average deliberation time (7.75 hours) in felony trials. Wisconsin had the shortest (1 hour).
- Juries deliberating in state courts were more likely to be sequestered (25%) than federal court (15%).
- Criminal juries in state courts were more likely to be sequestered (27%) than civil juries (23%). That pattern reversed in federal courts (11%) with civil juries and (17%) more likely to be sequestered
According to a study released this spring by the Center for Jury Studies of the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), Williamsburg, Va., more than one-third of all Americans are likely to serve as jurors at some point in their life. This is a dramatic increase from 1977, when only 6 percent of Americans served as trial jurors. The increase most likely is the result of more inclusive master jury lists, shorter terms of jury service, and other changes in court policies designed to make jury service more convenient and accessible to citizens, the survey reports.
Wisconsin juries claim the shortest deliberation time - one hour - in the 84-page report. The study documents jury improvement efforts and the legal infrastructure for jury operations and practices on a statewide basis. Judges and lawyers described the practices employed in nearly 12,000 jury trials, state and federal, between 2002 and 2006, and 1,396 state trial courts were surveyed about terms and conditions of jury service.
The NCSC is a nonprofit court reform organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. The center, founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, provides education, training, technology, management, and research services to the nation's state courts.
Read or download the report.
Wisconsin Lawyer
