Are you aware of how many of your prospective jurors are
responsible for childcare? Often you lose the benefit of such jurors as they
are regularly excused for obvious reasons. That being said, Courts are
increasingly aware of childcare being an issue for prospective jurors and some
have begun to proactively address it.
For example, Superior Courts in Riverside and Murrieta have
childcare available for jurors. They accept children three years and older and are
potty trained. A quick internet search of California Superior Courts shows
other locations offering pretty much the same service, among them are Redwood
City, Compton and Fresno.
Although there are too few Courts offering childcare for
this to impact all jury pools, it is a trend that could very well develop
quickly. Courts need more willing jurors and this is an intelligent approach to
the problem. After all, significant segments of the population cannot serve if
hampered by childcare obligations. We’re not just talking about young moms, but
also fathers who are taking over childcare for working moms, single dads and
the traditional grandmothers and aunts who provide such services for family.
Jurors with young children have a different order of concerns,
and often a different lifestyle (sleep deprived, exist in a child-centric
universe). Depending on your case, introducing these jurors into the mix means
looking at your case through these jurors’ eyes, something you may not have had
to do before.
