BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) -
When you are sitting in jail, waiting to go to trial, you assume people will show up to be on your jury. A Brevard County judge on Friday sent a stern message to people who skipped out on jury duty.
Deputy Chief Judge Charles Roberts hauled almost seventy people into court Friday afternoon to explain why they did not show up for jury duty last month.
The courts in Brevard County got slowed down because a lot of people blew off their civic duty.
Most of the people who showed up for Friday afternoon's hearing were rescheduled for jury duty after they paid a twenty five dollar fine to cover the expense of having to send them a second summons.
Court officials tell us people who did not show up for this hearing could be fined, charged with contempt of court, or hauled off to jail themselves.
Judge Roberts says we all have a right to a fair trial, and people who willfully shirk their civic duty will be held accountable.
