HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Fifteen potential jurors remained absent Monday, unfazed by a court order threatening a fine and contempt for failure to answer a summons for jury duty.

Five of the 20 summonsed appeared Monday before Cabell Circuit Judge Paul T. Farrell. A Wayne County man was excused due to his place of residence, while four others agreed to attend orientation and serve as summonsed.

Farrell had ordered the 20 residents to appear Monday to “show good cause for their failure to appear for jury duty” as previously summonsed. Failure to do so could result in a $1,000 fine and civil contempt, the order stated.

It marked a new step in the court’s effort to increase its jury yield…