Judges involved in a jury reform pilot project in 10 courtrooms across the state have been authorized by the Tennessee Supreme Court to continue using some or all of the changes beyond the scheduled March 1 end of the experiment which was implemented to improve conditions for Tennessee jurors.
In a new order, justices said the project, which started Sept. 1, 2001, may continue in the pilot project courts “until further order.” The project will assess 14 recommendations of the Tennessee Bar Association Jury Reform Commission, created in 1998 to evaluate jury procedures in the state. A report on results of the pilot project will be submitted to the state Advisory Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure for consideration of the recommendations.
In a 1999 report, the TBA Jury Reform Commission cited areas of the jury system needing improvement. Reform objectives are:
* Recognizing that jurors are citizens who are performing a critical public service
* Respecting the personal and human needs of jurors to the extent possible and consistent with the important objectives of a fair trial and administrative convenience
* Structuring the trial process to maximize juror involvement, satisfaction and performance
* Achieving greater uniformity in civil and criminal cases throughout the state
Participants in the pilot project are Circuit Court Judges Robert Childers of Memphis, Creed McGinley of Savannah, Don Ash of Murfreesboro, Thomas Brothers of Nashville and Marie Williams of Chattanooga; Chancellor Steven Stafford of Dyersburg; and Criminal Court Judges Lillie Ann Sells of Cookeville, E. Shayne Sexton of Jacksboro, Richard Baumgartner of Knoxville and James Beasley, Jr., of Memphis.
In the pilot courts, the participating judges, jurors and attorneys are answering questions on an anonymous questionnaire concerning jury issues. The surveys are being analyzed at the University of Tennessee College of Law.