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One writer's adventures and observations of life in the San Fernando Valley and the surrounding Southland communities.

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A judge makes a pitch for jury duty

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Contributed by: Fronnie Lewis on 10/16/2007

Want to clear a crowded room really fast? Yell fire? No, ask for volunteers to do jury duty. Talking about a bad rap.

For many of us this civic responsibility has a negative rating equal to or worse than standing in line all day at the DMV. Now, let me be upfront. I'm one of those excuse-making, I'm-too-busy-to-serve folks.

I haven't gone as far as to book an out-of-town trip or plan elective surgery during the week I'm scheduled for jury service. Several times I have joined thousands of my fellow citizens in the jury pool, but I admit I did not do so without grumbling and complaining. I

now feel a little guilty about my foot dragging and the credit for that goes to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ronald Coen.

A few weeks ago, at a gathering of local citizens in Burbank, Judge Coen gave an inspiring talk about the law and the judicial system. Sounds boring? It wasn't in the least. Even without his black judicial robe, at well over six feet, Coen cuts an imposing figure.

Still, he spoke in an easygoing manner, blending snippets of personal experience with dry wit and humorous asides into his presentation. He admitted to once being a long-haired hippie type and leading a strike at Cal State Northridge back in 1970.

Not quite what you would expect from a jurist who now describes himself as a strict law and order judge.

Make no mistake about it, Judge Coen presides over the hard criminal cases. Last month in a San Fernando courtroom, Judge Coen sentenced retired teacher and former Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy John Racz to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of his wife.

Ann Racz disappeared 16 years ago. Her body has never been found. Judge Coen told the group in Burbank that his job is to apply the law and he has " no problem putting defendants in state prison" or handing down the death penalty. If we don't like a law, the judge says it is up to the people to "change it."

Judge Coen is tough on criminals, but he offered up only praise and respect for juries. He spoke with admiration of jurors who felt such a strong responsibility that they came to trial even when sick with the flu.

Coen told us about other jurors who bonded so tightly that they remained close after the verdict was in and their job done. A number of times, he reminded us that "my courtroom is your courtroom" come visit and see it work.

The Los Angeles Superior Court reportedly needs 7,-000 to 10,000 jurors a day to operate. If you receive a jury summons, by law you are required to respond to it. If you skip out on jury service and get caught, you face fines up to $1,500 and possibly jail time.

During the past two months of August and September, court hearings were held in Lancaster and Long Beach for some of those who didn't respond to jury service notices on at least three separate occasions. More of these hearings are scheduled this month in Torrance.

The jury hearings are part of the Los Angeles Superior Court's efforts to "encourage voluntary participation in jury service." I am sure the embarrassment and inconvenience of being forced to appear at one of these hearings is enough to persuade most to join the jury pool.

Yet, I have to wonder if this haul-them-into-court method will produce the kind of dedicated and responsible jurors Judge Coen was raving about. The kind of jurors we would all want to decide our fate. Quantity is important, but so is quality.

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