Juror Shortage in Boston

The increase in crime in Boston is having an unexpected effect — Suffolk County is running out of jurors. At this rate, the court system will be out of jurors by October.

That's something that has never happened before in Massachusetts and it could halt civil trials and delay criminal proceedings. As a result, officials are pushing a bill in the legislature to call potential jurors more often and some have proposed requiring residents of suburban towns to be required serve on Boston juries.

Pamela Wood is the state's jury commissioner and she joins us now to talk about the problem. She talks here with WBUR's Bob Oakes.