PDF Juror Appreciation Kit

Juror Appreciation Kit

COURTS THROUGHOUT THE NATION CELEBRATE JUROR APPRECIATION WEEK ANNUALLY. We hope that you will join the celebration in honor of jurors and the jury system. By helping courts implement Juror Appreciation Week, the American Bar Association Commission on the American Jury hopes to

Reinforce public confidence in the justice system Improve communication with jurors and employers Disseminate an important and positive message to the public about jury service We are urging courts across the nation to celebrate Juror Appreciation Week, May 2?6, 2005, immediately following Law Day on May 1. This kit describes a variety of juror appreciation activities to help courts devise programs that will honor local citizens who serve as jurors.

JUROR APPRECIATION ACTIVITIES

Thank-You Gifts

Distribute juror appreciation certificates to jurors Provide coffee, donuts, and other refreshments for jurors Distribute souvenirs or gifts

Items such as mugs, pens or bookmarks, imprinted with a juror appreciation message Gavel key chains "I've Been a Juror" buttons A free daily newspaper Free tickets to a local sporting event Give door prizes such as tee shirts or gift baskets Have court personnel wear buttons that say "We Appreciate Our Jurors"

Special Presentations or Events

Invite high-court officials and/or celebrities to welcome jurors Present awards, certificates or thank-you cards to

Jurors who have made extra efforts to serve (e.g., a disabled juror who braved a snowstorm to get to jury service) Jurors serving during Juror Appreciation Week, including any invited former jurors Celebrities who have served in the previous year Students who have written award-winning essays about the jury or jury service Arrange for proclamations or resolutions by local government in honor of Juror Appreciation Week Ask newspapers to donate ad space to publish the resolution or proclamation Hang student-created posters or banners and honor the student artists Organize lunch-hour presentations or concerts in or near the courthouse Set up an information fair with booths near the courthouse

continued

Special Presentations or Events (continued)

Plan presentations or lectures by A court team about various roles in the court (e.g., judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, court clerk, court reporter) A local law enforcement official about self-defense Non-profit organizations about community service activities and opportunities Court staff regarding court programs and initiatives

Distribute brochures for walking tours of historical sites or interesting landmarks close to the courthouse

Public Outreach and Education

Air public service announcements on radio Publish op-ed pieces about jury service experiences or the role of the jury Conduct mock trials at local colleges or high schools, allowing students to be jurors Conduct the ABA's Dialogue on the American Jury (available at jury/dialogue.html) at local colleges or high schools Show juror orientation videos at community centers, local colleges, or local high schools

Public Involvement

Ask local public officials or governments (e.g., city councils, county legislatures) to issue resolutions or proclamations honoring Juror Appreciation Week Ask local newspapers to issue editorials honoring Juror Appreciation Week Ask local media to cover Juror Appreciation activities Conduct essay or poster design contests for high school, college and graduate students and announce winners during Juror Appreciation activities Collaborate with public schools to have students develop jury room banners Send court speakers to schools for special presentations

Outreach to Employers

Encourage employers to pay jurors' salaries during service Present awards to employers who make jury service easy for their employees Host employer luncheons to thank them for supporting the jury system

SAMPLE RESOLUTION BY LOCAL GOVERNMENT

T he County/City of

is proud to

join the

Court in honoring citizens

who serve as jurors in

County.

We also extend our sincere thanks and appreciation

to all employers who support the jury system by

paying their employees for jury service. In honoring

the excellent service and commitment of citizens

who perform jury duty, we hope to reinforce public

confidence in the justice system, improve

communication with jurors and employers, and

disseminate an important and positive message

about jury service.

Date:

By:

SAMPLE PROCLAMATION IN APPRECIATION OF JURY SERVICE

Whereas, the right to a trial by jury is one of the core values of American citizenship; and Whereas, the obligation and privilege to serve as a juror are as fundamental to our

democracy as the right to vote; and

Whereas, our court depends upon citizens to serve as jurors; and Whereas, service by citizens as jurors is indispensable to the judicial system; and Whereas, all citizens should be encouraged to respond when summoned for jury

service; and

Whereas, a continuing and imperative goal for the courts, the bar, and the broader

community is to ensure that jury selection and jury service are fair, effective, and not unduly burdensome on anyone; and

Whereas, one of the most significant actions a court system can take is to show

appreciation for the jury system and for the [tens of] [hundreds of] thousands of citizens who annually give their time and talents to serve on juries.

Be it resolved that

, together with the

court in the

, is

committed to the following goals:

educating the public about jury duty and the importance of jury service;

applauding the efforts of jurors who fulfill their civic duty;

ensuring that the responsibility of jury service is shared fairly by supporting employees who are called upon to serve as jurors;

ensuring that the responsibility of jury service is shared fairly among citizens and that a fair cross section of the community is called for jury service;

ensuring that all jurors are treated with respect and that their service is not unduly burdensome;

providing jurors with tools that will assist their decision making; and

continuing to improve the jury system by encouraging productive dialogue between jurors and court officials.

Be it further resolved that the week of May 2?6, 2005 be designated "Jury Appreciation

Week" in

and that the undersigned support(s) the celebration of this

week, which shall include various activities in pursuit of the above goals.

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