Superior Court Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho has issued a $1,000 bench warrant each for the arrest of seven prospective jurors who failed to show up at a jury trial on Monday.
Camacho later quashed the bench warrant against three, leaving the warrant against four persons still outstanding as of yesterday.
The judge quashed the warrant against the three after finding their excuses reasonable. One appeared late on Monday, the other on Wednesday, the third came yesterday.
Saipan Tribune learned that the court summoned 205 prospective jurors for the jury selection on Monday in the case against 62-year-old Jose Ilo Santos.
Sixty-eight summons were served and 137 were not able to come-either they are off-island or were not located.
Of the 68 served, 58 appeared in court. Of the 10 who failed to come, three later showed up and were subsequently excused. The judge then issued bench warrants against the remaining seven.
The four who still have outstanding bench warrant may be held in contempt if they could not give reasonable reasons.
Camacho is said to be the first Superior Court judge to issue bench warrants against prospective jurors who fail to appear in court.
Home | Weather | Advertising | Classifieds | Subscription | Contact
Us | About Us | Archives
©2006 Saipan Tribune. All Rights Reserved
