NBC 11 Alive News – by Rebecca Lindstrom
DECATUR, Ga. — A new online juror questionnaire offered by the DeKalb County Court listed “slave” as an occupational option.
Court Administrator Cathy McCumber told 11Alive, the questionnaire went online a month ago, but is based off an internal list that’s been used for 13 years.
She says the list is 62 pages long, so she’s not sure if the word slave has always been on it, or if it was added before the questionnaire went online.
11Alive and the court learned about the problem Monday morning, after a potential juror filling out the form hit the letter “s” for sales. He says he got “slave” instead.
“That is not an occupation, slave is not an occupation,” said DeKalb resident, Cheryl Glass.
The company that designed the software says the drop down menus in the survey are inputted by the user.
“Hopefully it’s just a glitch and hopefully it will be worked out.
It doesn’t make sense, but at the same time people make mistakes,” said Anna Wyatt.
McCumber says the word was removed within an hour of learning about it. But figuring out how it got there, and when will take much longer.
At the courthouse Monday, residents responded with disbelief.
“So they’re saying it’s a mistake? I don’t think so. Why is that even an option? Wow,” said Bridgette Mathis.
Until a month ago, jurors had to fill out the questionnaire by hand and mail it in to the courthouse. The online form is supposed to be easier and more efficient.
http://www.11alive.com/news/article/314245/40/DeKalb-County-juror-form-lists-slave-as-occupation