Waltham Resident Pushes For Changes To Jury Duty For Elderly

WALTHAM, MA —After months of court cases piling up amid court closures because of the coronavirus, many of the state's court systems are gradually reopening, turning to Zoom for the more simple procedures. But the jury trial has largely been at a standstill as health officials work out how to keep jurors safe amid the pandemic.

One Waltham woman is pushing for amendments to jury duty with people in their 60s in mind.

Earlier this year she reached out to State Rep. Tom Stanley, proposing three bills, one that would reform jury duty enforcement to a civil matter, rather than a criminal matter for people older than 60, one that would reform jury duty disqualifications and one that would reform jury duty delinquency fines.

State legislators get bill requests from constituents from time-to-time. Often, the problem the constituent is trying to address can be solved administratively or there is pending legislation that is similar to what they want so they rarely get the point of actually filing the bill, according to a staff member from Rep. Tom Stanley's office.

Susan Alyn said the purpose of the first of her bills is to reduce the age of those who can choose to opt out of jury duty to 60 from 70 in an effort to keep older people more at risk to the coronavirus, safe.

Similarly, the purpose of the second bill she and Stanley filed is to repeal the current criminal enforcement of jury duty laws against juror no-shows, so that enforcement only results in a civil fine against seniors aged 60-69, and all state residents, who may seek to avoid jury duty to help
prevent the spread and infection of the virus.

The third bill would change the maximum civil fine of no more than $2,000 to no more than $25 as the maximum amount of civil fine money due from a no-show juror of any age who fails to appear for jury duty, so as to encourage those at most risk of spread and infection of the virus, to stay home and to recognize current economic hardships.

Since these three bills (HD5217, HD5218, HD5219) are not considered timely filed bills under House rules (timely filed bills must be submitted at the beginning of each session), they are currently in the House Committee on Rules. It's up to the discretion of the Committee Chair whether to keep them in the committee or not. Should the bills move out, they'd likely be referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary for review.

Got a tip? Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a press release you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how to post a press release, a column, event or opinion piece.