THE JURY SELECTION PROCESS IN GEORGIA – LOOKING FOR A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK

Abstract

This article examines current jury selection practices in Georgian courts by analyzing the results of jury trial observations and a survey of judges, lawyers, prosecutors, representatives of the Ombudsman Office, civic activists, and journalists across all seven cities of Georgia where jury trials take place. Jury selection, which the public sometimes associates with undue delays and waste of resources, can be considered the Achilles’ heel of the Georgian jury system. The research analyzes various stages of jury selection: creating jury rolls, summoning jurors, accepting summons, completing and returning juror questionnaires, showing up for jury selection, self-recusals and challenges by parties, and forming the jury. It aims to identify core problems in the jury selection process and propose solutions to policymakers and practitioners.

Georgia adopted a universal approach to jury selection by law, but the research demonstrates that the practice differs significantly from written law. This paper is the first empirical study in Georgia that examines the jury selection process. It provides policymakers and practitioners with a better view of the process and suggests various solutions that can help improve the process efficiency and effectiveness.