Dillons Stores honored for encouraging jury service

TOPEKA—Chief Justice Kay McFarland will present the 1999 Juror Employer of the Year Award to the Dillons Stores during a statewide meeting of Kansas judges June 10-11 in Wichita, it was announced in Topeka today.

The Dillons Stores, whose corporate headquarters is in Hutchinson, was nominated for the award by a committee of trial judges who were appointed to look into the status of jury management in Kansas with an eye toward improving the conditions of jury service whenever possible. Members of the committee include Judge Bob Schmisseur, Pratt; and Judges Terry Bullock and Jim Buchele, of Topeka.

Chief Justice McFarland said in presenting the award, the "Supreme Court is recognizing a major employer in Kansas who has made extra efforts to encourage their employees to serve on juries. Dillons Stores has demonstrated its dedication to providing the utmost flexibility for its employees to accommodate this important civic duty. The company's written policy concerning jury service specifies that employees are to be paid the difference between the statutory jury fee and their salary. It also provides for changes in working hours and days to accommodate jury service," the chief justice said.

The chief justice will present the award at a luncheon meeting scheduled for noon, Thursday, June 10th, in the Wichita Mariott Hotel.

Educational programs being presented to the judiciary during the two day meeting include a panel discussion by judges who have handled Kansas death penalty cases and sessions on managing foster care cases, nonverbal communication techniques, understanding forensic evaluations of persons with mental disabilities, and a legislative update on 1999 legislative enactments.