Judge scolds Molina Healthcare over leave policy for jurors
The judge presiding over the death-penalty trial of Lincoln S. Rutledge didn’t hide his displeasure last week when he learned that one of the jurors was no longer being paid by his employer to serve on the jury.
The jury had convicted Rutledge of purposely killing a Columbus police officer and was listening to mitigating factors to determine whether to recommend a death sentence or life in prison.
On Tuesday, into the jury’s third week of service, the juror informed the court that his employer would pay for only two weeks of jury duty. He told Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Mark Serrott that he was using vacation time to continue serving.
The judge said he called the employer, Molina Healthcare, in an effort to convince management about the importance of the case and the juror’s service, but couldn’t get the Northeast Side-based company to alter its policy.
Read more: http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170704/judge-scolds-molina-healthcare-over-leave-policy-for-jurors