Q: In the Jodi Arias trial, the jury can submit questions to be answered. Do any other states allow this?
—Karen Christanell, Johns Creek
A: Arizona, where the Arias trial is being held, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana and Wyoming are among the states where jurors can ask questions of witnesses during criminal trials. The Arizona Judicial Branch's website states: "Arizona has pioneered many successful jury reform measures, such as jurors being allowed to ask written questions of witnesses in the court; jurors being allowed to discuss evidence (in civil cases) during the course of the trial; juror note taking and juror notebooks in lengthy or complex trials and supplemental pay for long trials." Arias, 32, is on trial for the 2008 murder of boyfriend Travis Alexander, who was shot in the head, stabbed and slashed 27 times, and whose throat was slit.
Q: How many people will lose their jobs when the post office does away with Saturday delivery?
—Lil Kiser, Loganville
A: About 20,000 to 25,000 letter carriers, clerks and mail sorters will lose their jobs when the U.S. Postal Service ends Saturday delivery, beginning on Aug. 5. Some job losses will be through attrition, but there also could be buyouts and reassignments, officials have said. Overtime pay could also be cut. The USPS lost $15.9 billion in the last fiscal year.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
