FILED
2022 AUG 10
CLERK
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF UTAH
IN THE MATTER OF JUROR LUNCHES GENERAL ORDER
DURING CONDENSED TRIAL
22-012
SCHEDULE
The court has proven the value of a condensed jury trial schedule over decades
of experience. Most judges conduct jury trials from 8:30 or 9:00 am to 2:30 p.m. with
two fifteen-minute breaks and one thirty-minute break for lunch, taken in the jury room.
Jurors prefer the condensed jury trial schedule because they can often
maintain basic duties of their employment and home life.
Counsel and witnesses are better prepared and tend to move more
expeditiously than in a full day trial schedule.
Juror fatigue is reduced and attentiveness is increased.
Counsel and the court are able to handle other unrelated matters in the
afternoon.
Criminal sentencings are not delayed by reason of trial schedules.
The number of transcript pages from a condensed schedule equals or
exceeds the number of pages from a full-day schedule.
Security delays when entering the courthouse through a single point of
entry are reduced by keeping the jury in the courthouse.
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Instances of jurors, parties, and witnesses circulating while coming in and
out of a single point of entry at the courthouse are substantially
diminished.
Due to the distance of restaurants and parking, a relatively long time is
required for an offsite jury lunch. And the relatively small number of
restaurants in the area means that jurors and counsel and witnesses may
be at the same restaurant.
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, subject to the order of a judge presiding in a jury trial,
that:
1. Juries will be PARTIALLY SEQUESTERED and will remain together in
the courthouse during the lunch break and other breaks to facilitate the condensed trial
schedule.
2. Lunch for the jurors will be obtained by court personnel and delivered to
the jury room.
3. The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to expend funds pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 1871(e) to provide for lunches to jurors and to provide guidelines for the
assisting court personnel.
SO ORDERED this 10th day of August, 2022.
BY THE COURT:
_____________________________________
ROBERT J. SHELBY
CHIEF UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
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