Miscellaneous

New Category: Juror Orientation Videos!

By Anne Skove, Esq.

OK, not really, but we can dream...

New Mexico courts have a new online juror orientation video. It could also be used by teachers -- very informative! Beginning with a montage of photos of New Mexican courthouses (in which they try public officials for making crooked courthouse construction deals), the video goes on to cover history of jury trials, our jury-related Constitutional rights, evidentiary standards, and procedure.

Nervous! Interested! Educational! Scared to death! Real jurors (they are even listed in the credits) share their thoughts about selection and service.

You may ask: Why is there a close-captioned Spanish version available? Aren't jurors required to know English? Watch the video to learn the answer.

Forget Miss Swift* and Beyonce, we think the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts should get its very own moonman!

Thanks to our mole in the Land of Enchantment for the tip!

* She's basically Hannah Montana. -- son of court-o-rama

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on September 21, 2009 (boomark / email).