Like death and taxes, at one time or another jury duty seeks
everyone out
– even judges, as San Benito County Superior Court Judge Steven
Sanders discovered when he received his notice to appear as a
prospective juror at 9:30am on Monday.
Hollister – Like death and taxes, at one time or another jury duty seeks everyone out – even judges, as San Benito County Superior Court Judge Steven Sanders discovered when he received his notice to appear as a prospective juror at 9:30am on Monday.
Although the jury trial Sanders was summoned for was settled and he was able to go back to his regular duties Monday, he was excited about the prospect of sitting on the other side of the bench for a change.
“I didn’t want to be off the hook. I was very excited to perform my duty,” Sanders said. “I spend a lot of time with jurors, telling them how important their service is.”
The last time Sanders was summoned to perform his civic duty was just before donning his judge’s robe in 2000, but that trial was canceled as well, he said.
While San Benito County Superior Court Executive Officer Alex Calvo said based on the criminal justice system Sanders most likely won’t be recalled for jury duty for at least a year, Sanders surmised that when he does get summoned again, he may never actually make it into the jury box.
As a judge, he said other lawyers can be quick to boot him off a jury because of his legal knowledge and experience. But Sanders believes being versed in the law doesn’t make him any different than the average juror off the street.
“There is no ideal juror. Everybody brings with them their own experience and that’s good,” Sanders said. “What’s important is you have to be willing to listen and use basic analytical abilities. The reason we have jurors is to gauge the collective community insight into the facts. Judges don’t have any more corner on the market of detecting factual questions than anybody else.”
Highlighting the fact that anyone could be called to serve on a jury is important to the newly-appointed presiding judge because of the significance it serves to the legal system, Sanders said. Approximately 120 people are called for a trial, but usually only 70 to 80 show up because often times people move and forget to change their address, he said. And the common misconception many people have that if they don’t register to vote they can duck out of jury duty is wrong, he said.
Jury duty lists are derived mainly from the Department of Motor Vehicle’s database – so if you drive, you’re likely to get called one of these days, he said.
And if that notice appears in your mail box, instead of immediately formulating excuses to get out of it, embrace it instead, Sanders said.
“The entire community depends upon (jurors) to make the criminal justice system work,” he said.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
