Court Gives Jury Service New Look
Court Gives Jury Service New Look

Those doing Jury Service in the Bedford Town Court may have noticed how pleasant and efficient this honorable service can be!  In 2004, Bedford jury services reform, led by trial attorney and newly arrived Justice Kevin Quaranta, greeted jurors amidst the friendly confines of our courthouse in Bedford Hills.  Service as a juror starts with an introduction by the presiding judge on the jurors schedule during the first morning the jurors attend court.  

Jurors are then introduced to an informative film featuring Supreme Court Judges and court personnel sponsored by the New York State Office of Court Administration.  Prior to Quaranta’s service, this film had been used only in the higher courts but was readily available to our local court.  At the same time jurors watch the film, the Judge is able to preside over the jury case of the morning for purposes of hearings, plea bargains, negotiations and even other cases on that day’s calendar. 

If a jury case does commence, Judge Quaranta and Judge Banks now use a juror questionnaire which serves to cut down on unnecessary questioning of the jurors during their short time in court.  Next, jurors are selected in a most efficient way.  A method called the “struck” method is used, along with a non-designated alternate juror selection method (endorsed by New York’s Chief Judge Judith Kay).  During a trial, our excellent staff takes time to brew coffee or find a plate of cookies for those doing their jury duty!

Last and most important, “downtime”, sometimes connected with larger courts, is discouraged in our court.  Cases are going to move fairly and expeditiously for our jurors.  We all agree that is the way our Nation’s Founding Fathers would have it!