Jury Reform

Certainly everyone who has served on jury duty can appreciate Chief Justice Ronald George’s experience (“Jury Duty Shows Judge How Other Half Lives,” July 27) when he served briefly at the Beverly Hills Municipal Court.

It’s too bad that Justice George didn’t actually serve on a jury; then he might understand that much more needs to be done to make our jury system work than the cosmetic repairs that are being proposed. Based on my personal experience, too many sitting on juries are not really qualified to do so, based on bias, bigotry and inability to understand the judge’s instructions. The trial results should not depend on who can pay for the best lawyers.

We are long overdue to conduct an in-depth study of the jury system and how to make it more effective. But let’s be sure that those who do participate in the study have had real jury experience--not lawyers and politicians.

GEORGE EPSTEIN

Los Angeles