Used to happen far more frequently, because if somebody demanded a trial the court didn't necessarily have a panel handy.
Now most courts summon jurors for trial week, with extras depending on how many cases they expect to try (kind of like the airlines overbooking.) So there's a lot of sitting around for most of the prospective jurors (and way too much excitement for some).
So now this only happens if too many veniremen just ignore the jury summons.
Sounds like this county needs to prosecute a few of the veniremen who blew off the summons . . . just to "encourage the others."
I detest the jury system especially for civil cases. The jury system is forced service, just one step above slavery. I understand that the constitution requires the right to a jury trial, but I think that professional juries could still be used. The court system treats jurors poorly, not thinking anything of wasting time. For civil trials, the litigants should pay jurors.
This practice of grabbing people from the street is detestable. The legislature should prevent this practice. The court needs to find another way to ensure adequate jury pools.
My dad retired from the post office almost fourteen years ago...and tried as intently as possible to let the county clerk know that he was always available for jury duty. In fourteen years...he has never been called. I’ll bet in the county...there are at least two thousand folks like my dad. Then there’s my brother...whose had four jury duty requirements in ten years...always questioned for three minutes, and then released (he’s the engineer that prosecutors hate to have on jury duty). There’s something wrong with the system where so many folks want to be on a jury and can’t get the offer.