IN THE CIRCUIT COURT, SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR PASCO AND PINELLAS COUNTIES, FLORIDA

 

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 2006-112 PA/PI-CIR

printer friendly version

 

RE:  JURY COUNCIL

 

The Florida Supreme Court in Administrative Order 2006-13 established goals for the proper utilization of jurors.  An effective and efficient jury management system achieves three objectives:  first it ensures that an ample supply of jurors is available at the courthouse the day of jury selection; second, it ensures that no citizen is unduly inconvenienced by being unnecessarily summoned or required to report for jury duty; and third, it ensures that the court system is efficiently using the fiscal resources dedicated for the payment of juror per diem.  In order to monitor the proper use of jurors in this Circuit, and develop improvements to the jury process, it is

 

ORDERED:

 

1.         There is hereby created a Jury Council for the Sixth Judicial Circuit.  The Council shall consist of:

 

            The Chief Judge, Chairperson,

 

            The Pasco Administrative Judge or his or her designee,

 

            The Pasco Administrative County Judge or his or her designee,

 

            The Pinellas Criminal Administrative Judge or his or her designee,

 

            The Pinellas Administrative County Judge or his or her designee,

 

            The Pinellas Administrative County Criminal Judge or his or her designee,

 

            The Clerk of the Circuit Court Pasco County or his designee,

 

            The Jury Coordinator from the Pasco Clerk’s Office,

 

            The Clerk of the Circuit Court Pinellas County or his designee,

 

            The Jury Coordinator from the Pinellas Clerk’s Office,

 

The State Attorney or his designee,  

 

The Public Defender or his designee,

 

The Trial Courts Administrator or her designee,

 

A representative of the Clearwater Bar Association,

 

A representative of the St. Petersburg Bar Association, and

 

A representative of the West Pasco Bar Association.

 

 

            2.         The Jury Council shall perform the following functions:

 

                        a.  Monitor compliance with Supreme Court Administrative Order 2006-13.

 

b.  Review the percentage of persons who comply with a jury summons and determine what additional measures should be undertaken in this circuit to increase the number of persons who respond to a jury summons.

 

c.  Review the process of serving as a juror to determine what additional services can be provided by the court or the Clerk of the Circuit Court to make jury service more meaningful and enjoyable to persons summoned for service.

 

            3.         The Jury Council shall meet as needed but shall meet at least quarterly. 

 

            4.         Any staff supported needed by the Jury Council shall be provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts with the assistance of the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

 

 

                  DONE AND ORDERED in Chambers at St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida this ____ day of December 2006.

 

 

                                                                                                ____________________________

                                                                                                David A. Demers, Chief Judge

 

cc:        All Judges

            The Honorable Bernie McCabe, State Attorney

            The Honorable Bob Dillinger, Public Defender

            The Honorable Jed Pittman, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Pasco County

            The Honorable Ken Burke, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Pinellas County

            Debbie Gay, Assistant Court Services Director, Pasco County Clerk’s Office

            Carol Heath, Executive Director, Court & Operational Services Division, Pinellas County

            Gay Inskeep, Trial Courts Administrator

Bar Associations, Pasco and Pinellas Counties

            Law Libraries, Pasco and Pinellas Counties