Missoula County Judges Eye No-Show Jurors

Judges in Missoula County say they are becoming less patient with residents who ignore jury duty.

District Judge Dusty Deschamps says  that judges plan "to get a little more proactive."

Leilani Davis of Missoula spent two days in jail last week for repeatedly failing to respond to jury duty summonses and the penalties that resulted.

Deschamps says potential jurors with a legitimate reason will be excused, but that potential jurors who simply ignore jury duty summonses will end up in trouble.

District Court Clerk Shirley Faust says the number of jury duty responses from questionnaires ebbs and flows.

Potential jurors who get the questionnaires have a week to respond.

Associated Press