Jury Patriotism Act targets poor turnout.

• Position: Your Life - Brief Article

As juror turnout reaches crisis levels across the nation, the American Legislative Exchange Council calls on all state legislatures to look again at introducing the Jury Patriotism Act, which is designed to increase juror participation rates.

No-show rates among summoned jurors in several jurisdictions have become alarming. For example, estimates for Richmond, Va., are 65%, while Houston and Dallas, Tex., were at 80%. "Avoidance of jury service has seriously jeopardized the rights of litigants, and the fight for fair juries must continue," states Kristin Armshaw, ALEC's civil justice task force director.

In an effort to win the battle against poor jury turnout, Arizona, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah, and Vermont recently have enacted legislation based on ALEC's Jury Patriotism Act, which has the primary aim of increasing the representation and inclusiveness of the jury pool.

It proposes that jurors should be provided with one automatic postponement of service; the elimination of...