OFFICE OF JURY COMMISSIONER UNVEILS
NEW JUROR SERVICE WEBSITE STATEWIDE
Prospective
jurors in Massachusetts are now the first in the country
to have an online option to respond to all aspects
of their jury duty summons. Today, the Office of Jury
Commissioner announced the launch of its new interactive
Juror Service Website. In addition to the convenience
and efficiency of responding electronically, the Office
of Jury Commissioner anticipates significant savings
on return postage and printing costs.
The interactive functionality
of the Massachusetts Juror Service Website is the most comprehensive in the country,
according to Paula Hannaford-Agor, Director of the Center for Jury Studies of
the National Center for State Courts. Those who receive a summons in the mail
can use a unique code to access the website and confirm or postpone their service,
request a hardship transfer, or seek to be disqualified. They can also get courthouse
information (including directions from their own home to the courthouse), and
complete documents such as the mandatory demographic survey and confidential
juror questionnaire.
“Anything the jurors previously
did by mail, or by calling our juror helpline at 1-800-THE-JURY, they can now
do online,” said Jury Commissioner Pamela J. Wood.
“This website allows the
courts to increase efficiency and accessibility,” said Chief Justice for
Administration and Management Robert A. Mulligan. “We want to enhance the
ability of citizens to participate in the justice system and ensure diversity
in jury pools.”
Thousands
of state residents have already evaluated a test version
of the website, and the response has been extremely
positive, according to Commissioner Wood. “My
favorite was the juror who said this was ‘without
question the best Massachusetts state website’ she
had used,” she said. Others called the website “fantastic,” “quick
and easy,” “excellent,” and “very
user-friendly.” Several users identified it as “one
of the better websites.”
The website is the latest addition
to a total upgrade of technologies used in jury management in Massachusetts.
In 2005, the courts started using bar code scanners in the jury pools, cutting
check-in times at some of the busier courthouses by as much as an hour. Since
that time, the Office of Jury Commissioner has introduced many additional technological
innovations, leading up to the introduction of the Juror Service Website.
“The website will not only
cut costs but will also lead to quicker, more direct services for the juror,
such as e-mail reminders and electronic updates on their status,” said
Commissioner Wood. “We hope that in time, the majority of jurors will choose
to respond to their summonses online.”
Because the website contains
personal information about jurors, only those people who have received summonses
can access the actual website. A PowerPoint presentation of the interactive Juror
Service Website in action can be viewed at the Office of Jury Commissioner’s
informational website at www.MassJury.com,
by clicking on the “Juror Service Website Demonstration” link at
the bottom of the home page.
There
are 66 courts in Massachusetts that use jurors. Approximately
7,000 citizens report for jury service every week in
the Commonwealth.
