Former Hillsborough Co. jurors invited to speak during panel
TAMPA (FOX 13) - One of our most important civic responsibilities is jury duty, but judges, attorneys, and the public rarely get to hear from jurors after their service ends.
Now there is an opportunity for jurors to share their experiences.
Former jurors are invited to attend the 22nd Annual Bench Bar Conference.
Questionnaires went out to hundreds of jurors, inviting them to participate in a jury forum.
Hillsborough Circuit Judge Samantha Ward says hearing from jurors allows the court staff and lawyers
to improve the jury process. Some of the feedback, she says can be eye-opening.
"I sent out questionnaires at the conclusion of all my trials and it’s amazing the responses I get back from jurors, some report being bullied by other jurors in the jury room during deliberations, some report a real reluctance to speak up and speak their minds about differences of opinion," said Judge Ward.
Judge Ward encourages any former jurors to sign up for the seminar, which is Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at the Hilton in downtown Tampa. To sign up, email benchbar@fljud13.org.