The idea, which came from an audit requested by Milwaukee County Board Chairman Lee Holloway after three white former police officers were acquitted by an all-white jury of beating biracial man Frank Jude Jr. in 2006, can’t go forward because it would violate the state’s requirements for random jury selection, Van Hollen wrote.

However, Milwaukee County court officials said minority service on juries has increased with efforts to improve the response rate of residents summoned to duty. It was below 13% in January 2006 but rose to 21% the next January and was 19% last month, Clerk of Circuit Court John Barrett said.

He credited the courts’ use of more follow-up letters after the initial summons for improving the response rate.

“If you don’t follow up, I think they then just assume that you don’t care,” Barrett said.

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