The judges of the Franklin County Municipal Court continually support change and enhancement to the jury Managment Program, thereby making the program user-friendly and transparent. The court implemented flexible reporting times which have produced better demographic sampling, higher reporting percentages an lose Failure to Appear rates (3.0%). the jury room has two areas; one area has five PCs with high speed Internet access as well as an area for quiet reading.  The main assembly room is set up in thetare seating for movies which are shown morning and afternoon.  The jurors are also encouraged to take tours of the Supreme Court of Ohio as well as the Statehouse.

This program is unique in the fact that it was developed entirely on the needs and requests of its jurors, while at the same time accommodating the needs of the court.  The entire jury management program is explained on the court's Website at http://www.fcmcclerk.com/jury/jury.htm.

OJMA's 2006 Award of Excellence

On April 7, 2005, the Ohio Jury Management Association issued is annual Award of Excellence to Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer of The Supreme Court of Ohio.   Chief Justice Moyer has served on the Supreme Court of Ohio since 1987.  He has worked to enhance public trust and confidence in the Courts and has initiated several efforts that have had an impact upon the justice system, including jury service, in Ohio. Chief Justice Moyer personifies what the OJMA Award of Excellence represents and clearly meets every criterion for the award. The actions of the Chief Justice have had a significantly positive effect upon jury service, the jury management profession, and the justice system.   As an example, Chief Justice Moyer led the effort to develop and adopt the Ohio Trial Court Jury Use and Management Standards.  These standards, adopted in 1993, provide guidelines for trial courts to follow for the most effective and efficient management of the jury system, taking into account the needs of the Court as well as the citizens called upon to perform their civic function as a juror.

Chief Justice Moyer has been a dynamic advocate for jurors and jury programs for many years.  He has exhibited an extraordinary commitment to improving the jury system for the State of Ohio.  In 2002, the Chief Justice appointed a 25 member Task Force on Jury Service to review jury service and management concerns and to make recommendations for improvement.  The resulting report recommended actions affecting how Judges manage jury trials and the management of juror needs.  In issuing the report, Chief Justice Moyer stated “This comprehensive package of reforms is a sensible and well-researched way to strengthen this vital institution and improve the quality of justice for all Ohioans.” 

Chief Justice Moyer serves as a role model for all courts in addressing the needs of individuals summoned for jury service.  The previously mentioned Jury Use and Management Standards, developed under the leadership of the Chief Justice, address issues of practical concern to trial jurors, such as the term of service, juror use, jury facilities, juror orientation, and jury deliberation.  Chief Justice Moyer also supports the needs of Ohio judiciary and court staff regarding jury issues by continuing to support the Ohio Judicial College, which sponsors professional development seminars on topics having an impact upon jurors.

Chief Justice Moyer has provided outstanding support to OJMA.  As an inaugural member of OJMA upon the inception of the association in 2000, Chief Justice Moyer has routinely made time in his very busy schedule to attend the annual OJMA conference and provide words of wisdom and encouragement to those attending the conference.  The credibility and stature of OJMA have been enhanced by the participation by Chief Justice Moyer.

The Chief Justice has significantly contributed to the development of policies, procedures, laws and rules that have had a positive impact upon the jury system in Ohio.  As a result of the Jury Use and Management Standards and the Task Force on Jury Service, a number of improvements have been inspired and realized.  Recent rules changes are allowing Judges the latitude to use jury innovations in their courtrooms.  Recent legislative changes that were enacted, in part, because the Task Force report, clearly support the perspective that jury service is an obligation of citizenship while providing a practical opportunity for the juror to postpone their service, if necessary.

Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer has a genuine interest in the continual improvement of Ohio’s courts, including the jury system.  This award recognizes the efforts and accomplishments of the Chief Justice, who has contributed in an exemplary way to the mission of OJMA to promote and enhance jury service through excellent jury management in Ohio.

OJMA’s 2005 Award of Excellence

In 2005, the Ohio Jury Management Association issued its annual Award of Excellence to the Judges of the General Division of the Common Pleas Court for Montgomery County. The Judges of Montgomery County were nominated for this Award by James W. Drubert, Court Administrator for the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court. The Award was issued to the Judges of Montgomery based upon the following criteria outlined by Mr. Drubert.

In 2002, the Judges of the General Division committed funds and support for a complete review of jury management and practices in the Court. The project was completed under the auspices of the National Center for State Courts with Tom Munsterman as the Project Director. This review placed every practice and procedure relating to jury management under a microscope. Many long-standing practices were challenged. Most of the recommendations and other improvements have been institutionalized by the Court. The changes have been positive and well accepted by the community. The jury system has been strengthened, and other efficiencies have been realized. This was done with the full support of the Judges of the Court. The following changes have occurred in the Montgomery County jury system:

 Jurors reporting for duty are periodically surveyed to determine the demographic makeup of jury panels. This self-reporting method creates factual information for identifying and monitoring representative ness of jury panels.
 The National Change of Address database is used to eliminate the names of individuals no longer living in Montgomery County. This has produced a "cleaner" list with fewer no-show jurors and defective addresses.
 Implemented internet access that allows citizens to transact jury business, request postponement, and make other adjustments at their convenience. Initial reviews suggest that over 20% of summoned jurors prefer this method of interacting with the Court.

The most significant improvement that has been implemented is the reduction in the term of jury service. For many years, the General Division had a three week on-call term of service. The NCSC study revealed that a significant number of people were called for jury service and never used for jury selection. However, they were kept on call for three weeks. This made it very difficult for the Court and citizens to plan accordingly. After substantial review and study, the Court reduced the term to three days or one trial. This change has increased participation and more fairly distributed the burden of jury service to the community. This change has been successful in meeting the needs of jurors, the Court, and employers who bear the primary cost of jury service.

From the inception of OJMA, the General Division Judges have shown their support by devoting budget resources to allow staff and judicial memberships in the organization. Judges and court staff have participated in training sessions and served on panels at OJMA conferences.

The Judges of the General Division experimented with multiple lists many years ago. A combined voter and drivers license was used to draw jury pools. That attempt yielded numerous problems, and the Court discontinued the use of multiple lists. However, the Court continued to perceive this as a method to make larger numbers of people eligible for jury service. Many courts contacted the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court about this method, and the Court provided information and guidance. The Court is currently considering utilizing the multiple lists with new methods designed to overcome previous problems.

A significant point of all of these changes and reforms has been the willingness of the Court to encourage public comment at all levels. This has been very effective in gauging support. In addition, the Court has created an environment for staff that is fully conducive to developing and proposing change to the jury system.

The Court’s implementation of a short term of service is a significant improvement to jury service that can be modeled in every other court in Ohio. The combined changes have made jury pools in Montgomery County more representative of the community. The changes have made jury service more efficient and effective, and less burdensome on those selected. In view of the preceding, the Judges of the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court were issued OJMA’s Award of Excellence.

The Judges of the Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, General Division are:

• G. Jack Davis
• Jeffrey E. Froelich
• Barbara P. Gorman
• David A. Gowdown
• Michael T. Hall
• Mary K. Huffman
• John W. Kessler
• Dennis J. Langer
• Gregory F. Singer
• Michael L. Tucker
• J. Wagner

A recent news article following this year's OJMA award:

"Court honored for jury procedures," By Rob Modic, Dayton Daily News
DAYTON | Montgomery County Common Pleas Court was recognized Thursday for shortening jury duty from three weeks to three days or one trial, and for giving jurors the chance to provide information over the Internet.

Judge G. Jack Davis, who chaired the committee that developed the new procedures, accepted the Award of Excellence from the Ohio Jury Management Association at its conference this week in Dublin.
Jean Atkin, president of the association and court administrator for Lucas County Common Pleas Court, said the Montgomery County staff and judges reduced the inconvenience of jury duty for its citizens.
James Drubert, administrator for Montgomery County Common Pleas Court, noted the new system also began using the National Change of Address database to update records of registered voters from which the courts draw prospective jurors. Drubert said the change reduced the number of people who failed to appear for jury duty. For the year before the system was implemented, between 16 percent and 19 percent of all summonses were not deliverable. Since September, the rated dropped to less than 11 percent, he said.
By using questionnaires to survey prospective jurors, the court learned that the new system has increased the percentages of black jurors from 11 percent to 15.6 percent, closer to the 18 percent found in Montgomery County by the 2000 Census.
The changes also slightly increased the number of jurors in lower-income brackets and reduced the percentages in higher-income brackets. Likewise, more younger jurors are reporting for jury duty and slightly fewer older jurors are appearing than in previous years.
Drubert said plans to add lists of drivers licensed in Ohio to the jury pool are still being evaluated. One problem: Available drivers license records date back to 1998, and a preliminary analysis found 200,000 more names on the list than the county had eligible voters, according to 2000 Census data.