BREVARD COUNTY, Fla.,None — A Brevard County judge, who said he has had enough of absentee jurors, held a special hearing on Friday morning. Judge Charles Roberts called more than 50 people to his courtroom so they could explain why they didn't show up for jury duty on Oct. 4.
"Your jury summons is not just an invitation to come down and participate. It is a requirement that you come down here unless you have an excuse," said Roberts.
Last month, Roberts needed 30 potential jurors to sit in a burglary case. When Roberts asked for 30 people to be sent to his courtroom, he learned that only 38 people showed up for three judges.
Roberts said he was able to begin trial because a defendant in another courtroom took a plea deal. A third judge was forced to begin trial late in the afternoon.
Roberts vowed it wouldn't happen again, and he summoned the other 51 people who were supposed to be at the Brevard County Courthouse in October to his courtroom on Friday.
Lanesha Davis told WFTV that she never saw her jury summons. She did, however, see the judge's order to appear in court on Friday.
"This is probably my third time in a courthouse. If I would have to serve jury duty, I would have been here," Davis said.
Some of the would-be jurors were excused. But the rest of them will be getting another jury summons. For those who were a no show on Friday, Roberts said they'll get one more chance to see him before he issues an arrest warrant.