Number of El Pasoans getting summoned for jury duty continues to increase

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA)-- The number of El Pasoans getting summoned for jury duty is increasing.

According to court officials, in February 2022, 3,795 people were summoned for jury duty. Just last month, 14,145 people were summoned.

In March 2020, the El Paso Council of Judges announced all jury trials were halted in the county's district courts, and jury duty was suspended to help combat the COVID pandemic.

According to court officials, the number of jury summons has been increasing since 2021.

Michael Cuccaro, the executive director of the El Paso Council of Judges, said, "The increase in the number of jury summons is an indicator that the courts and the entire justice system is at work for the public."

Judge Ruben Morales of County Court at Law no. 7 said it wasn't until last February that COVID-19 protocols were lifted.

He said since the number of people being summoned has gone up drastically.

The judge said some jurors are more understanding now.

"I think people are used to coming back and they are willing, there's always some pushback like I said. Some people don't like jury service. They didn't like it in 2019, and they don't like it in 2023," he said.

But the judge said jurors are critical in some cases.

"There's a lot of cases that the only way they are going to get resolved is through a jury trial and those are the cases we need them for," Judge Morales said.

He said things are slowly returning to normal.

"I think we are progressing well and I think we are at a good place right now and I am hopeful that people will respond to their jury summons and come in as much as they can," Morales said.