"Courthouse confusion leads to fines for would-be jurors"

[Damage control]

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site...d=416046&rfi=8

Six residents of Lackawanna and Luzerne county received both a short civics lesson and a $25 fine Monday.





All six were summoned before U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo to explain why they failed to show up for federal jury duty June 3. Each of the six had the same reason for their failure to appear: They showed up for jury duty across the street in county court instead.

The William J. Nealon Federal Building and Courthouse faces the Lackawanna County Courthouse, and it seems that both were hosting potential jurors that day. Several of the people who appeared before Judge Caputo on Monday said they weren’t aware that there were two courthouses in Scranton.

“As far as I was concerned, this is (just) a post office,” Jean B. Hubbard, of Moscow, told the judge.

And others said they did come into the federal building, but when they asked where to report for jury duty, they were told to go to the county courthouse.

“I reported to this building,” said Shannon L. Swan, of Eynon. “I was in the post office side.”

All six said after arriving at the county courthouse, they were directed to the jury room and sat there until the entire group was told they could leave. County jurors had checked in a day prior, according to court officials, so no one knew that several federal jurors were mixed into the group.

Roll call was not taken, and none of the group in court Monday asked if they were in the right place.

Judge Caputo said he could understand their confusion but felt they did not do enough to make sure they were in the right place. He pointed out that paperwork sent to them by federal court officials did list the address of the building and made it clear that they were expected to report to the federal courthouse.

“You bear some responsibility for getting to the right place,” Judge Caputo said. “There’s a giant sign on the building.”

Residents from eight counties, including Lackawanna and Luzerne, can be called for jury duty at Scranton’s federal courthouse, according to Cindy St. Pierre, jury administration clerk at the federal courthouse. She said Monday that they rarely have a problem where people called for federal jury duty mistakenly report to the county courthouse.

People who don’t show up for federal jury duty face up to three days in prison and a $100 fine.

In addition to Ms. Hubbard and Ms. Swan, the following people also paid $25 fines for failing to report for jury duty:

¦ Frank Birk, Mountaintop.

¦ Susan T. Cromer, Hanover Township.

¦ Kimberly A. Morris, Jessup.

¦ Pamela A. Swierbenski, Dunmore.

Contact the writer: enissley@timesshamrock.com

DC 12345678

[kevindsingleton]

These are the same people who'll be deciding your wrongful death case.

Jeezus. Maybe it's not always better to be judged by twelve.