Written by:“Jury trials have more than doubled in the past few months,” court administrator Richard Outmen told the Worcester County Commissioners during their budget session Tuesday.
From July 2009 through March 2010, 22 jury trials were conducted. From July 2010 through March 2011, that number increased to 49.
“The pace has intensified in the past six to eight months and probably will intensify further,” said Judge Richard Bloxom, who, along with Judge Thomas C. Groton III, accompanied Outten.
Sometimes, prospective jurors are notified to go to Circuit Court in Snow Hill, but before jury selection begins, the attorneys for the prosecution and the defense work out a deal and the people go home. Even if no trial is held, the people in the jury pool must still be paid a per diem rate of $25.
Three-fifths of any appropriation the commissioners make for jury per diem cost is reimbursed by the state.
By the end of January 2011, jury reimbursements had risen to $42,000, but the fiscal year 2011 budget only listed $40,000 for court fines and those reimbursements together. Fines accounted for $19,998.
The current budget for per diem jury costs is $34,100. Outten asked that the commissioners increase it to $70,000.
The number of jury trials for criminal cases has increased partly because Beau Oglesby, the new state’s attorney, wants more trials and fewer plea bargains and because many defendants request jury trials. Although some defendants request jury trials as a stalling tactic, others request them because they might be facing a stiff mandatory sentence if found guilty of certain felonies and prefer to take their chances with a jury instead of a judge.
There are also more indictments for drug dealers and for more serious cases, Bloxom said. The number of jury trials for civil cases has also increased.
Even though the state reimburses most of the per diem costs, other costs are involved. Those include salaries for people involved in scheduling and working with the juries. Theoretically, jury trials could be held simultaneously in the three courtrooms in Circuit Court in Snow Hill.
Partly because of the increase in jury trials, Outten and the judges requested that a vacant position be filled.
“It’s an essential, vital position,” Outten said. “The position is necessary.”
The vacant position is for Outten’s administrative assistant. His previous administrative assistant took over the duties of a criminal assignment clerk a few months ago. In addition to assisting Outten, the new hire would fill in as a judge’s secretary when needed, monitor the court smart system in the absence of a court reporter, fill in as a court assignment commissioner and organize and attend various meetings.
Outten asked the commissioners a few months ago for permission to fill that position, but was told to wait until budget time. Tuesday, Commissioner James Purnell told Outten, “We’ll take you at your word [that the position is needed].”
Altogether, the requested budget for Circuit Court is $1.25 million, an increase of $48,536 over the current $1.2 million budget.
Source; oceancitytoday
Oglesby "wants more trials and fewer plea bargains." Good. I don't mind my tax dollars going to the courts if more offenders are tossed in prison especially those who are repeat felons.
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