SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT MISSION STATEMENT

To promote the rule of law and foster public trust by leading an independent judiciary that assures every person equal access to the fair, timely, and impartial resolution of disputes in courts managed with efficiency and professionalism.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Pursuant to the provisions of G.L. c. 234A, the Jury Commissioner serves as the executive head of the Office of Jury Commissioner, the department that administers the jury system for the state courts in the Commonwealth.

MAJOR DUTIES:

The Office of Jury Commissioner oversees the selection, summonsing, and appearance of citizens to perform jury service. As executive head of the office, the Jury Commissioner supervises the work of a diverse group of professional and clerical staff, including:

• The Operations Department, which oversees the yearly collection and processing of census data, determines the number of jurors to be summoned to each court location, creates and issues summonses to individuals to appear for juror service, transfers jurors to different locations, administers the disqualification and postponement of jurors, and manages the office’s telephone, mailing, optical scanning processes and the jury system’s compensation and reimbursement system;
• The Network and Information Services Department, which annually creates a Master Juror List, oversees the operation, maintenance and development of the jury management system, the interactive juror website, the informational jury website, and associated databases and networks, maintains hardware and software at the Office of Jury Commissioner and jury courthouses, manages the Data Analysis Division and recommends adoption of new technologies and program applications; and
• The Legal Department, which prosecutes delinquent jurors, researches law, responds to legal inquiries, including document requests and performs additional legal tasks.

The Jury Commissioner also:

• With the approval of the Supreme Judicial Court, establishes regulations and sets forth policies, guidelines and forms for the selection and management of grand and trial jurors in furtherance of the objectives of G.L. c. 234A;
• Oversees the preparation of the office’s annual budget, spending plan and procurements and prepares the annual report on the operation of the jury system;
• Proposes and implements improvements and innovations to all elements of the jury system, to advance Massachusetts’ position as a national leader in jury management;
• Promotes outreach and public education on the jury system;
• Interacts with court leaders, officials in the Legislative and Executive branches and the Jury Management Advisory Committee, a standing oversight committee appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court and composed of six judges from the five jury court departments: Superior, District, Boston Municipal, Juvenile, and Housing;
• Addresses media inquiries and inquiries from other jury systems and private interest groups and the National Center for Jury Studies;
• Oversees the arrangements made for translators for hearing impaired jurors and the overall administration of ADA issues; and
• Performs related duties as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Reports to the Supreme Judicial Court and receives policy guidance and supervision from the Jury Management Advisory Committee.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

Supervises staff and activities of the Office of Jury Commissioner.

SALARY

The salary range for this position is $138,323.12 (Trial Court EXM, Step 1) to $196,002.82 (Trial Court EXM, Step 8). Starting salary is commensurate with experience.

OTHER NOTES