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    Commission on the American Jury

    We are excited to be continuing the combined work of the American Jury Project and the Commission on the American Jury.

    About the Commission

    The Commission began in 2003 under the leadership of ABA President-Elect Robert J. Grey, Jr. His vision was to bring four ABA groups together to focus on the importance of the jury in the American democratic tradition as practiced at the beginning of the 21st Century by addressing key aspects of jury composition, comprehension, and culture.

    Meet the Commission Members

    Principles for Juries and Jury Trials

    The American jury is a living institution that has played a crucial part in our democracy for more than two hundred years. The American Bar Association recognizes the legal community’s ongoing need to refine and improve jury practice so that the right to jury trial is preserved and juror participation enhanced. What follows is a set of twenty Principles that define our fundamental aspirations for the management of the jury system.

    Read the Principles

    Reasons for the Disappearing Jury Trial

    To evaluate the sources of decline in both civil and criminal jury trials and to assess what changes might slow down or reverse the disappearance of the American jury trial, the Commission conducted a national survey of attorneys and judges.

    Read the Report

    Assessing and Achieving Jury Pool Representativeness

    An inclusive and representative jury pool is critical to preserving the right to a fair and impartial jury. The authors provide useful guidelines for assessing and improving representatives in juries. 

    Read

    Researching Jurors During Voir Dire: #Do, #Don’t, & #HowTo

    An ABA ethics opinion provides that lawyers may use information they gather about potential jurors using the internet and social media during voir dire. Local jurisdictions and judges are implementing policies on the use of social media research.

    View Slides

    Dialogue on the American Jury

    The Dialogue on the American Jury is designed to help high school classrooms and community groups explore the many issues related to trial by jury.

    Learn More

    Jury Innovation Resource Kit

    In our efforts to advance the implementation of the ABA Principles on Juries and Jury Trials and reach out to the public, third party interest groups, government officials, national media, and the legal profession as a whole on the importance of jury service and jury reform the Commission has developed the Jury Innovation Resource Kit.

    View Kit

    Juror Appreciation Week

    Many states recognize the contributions of jurors by holding a Juror Appreciation Week. To help you promote your programs, we offer the following posters, sound bytes, jury bookmarks, and juror appreciation kit. Juror Appreciation Week also coincides with Law Day, May 1; see what Law Day programs are being planned in your area.

    Learn More