The State - News from Jan. 1, 1985

People who fail to appear for jury duty in San Francisco are not prosecuted and are not tracked down in most cases, according to trial transcripts filed in Superior Court. Lawyers for five murder suspects claim that the city’s jury panels are not balanced and blame the problem on the lax attitude of Jury Commissioner Frederick Whitman. Prosecution of the five cases has been delayed by court order until the jury composition challenge is settled. Whitman’s administrative aide said the city lacks the resources to look for those who shirk their civic duty.