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Commission on the American Jury

Welcome to the 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.

News and Updates

ABA Adopts Updated Principles including New Principle on Juror Safety

During the 2024 ABA Midyear Meeting, the ABA House of Delegates adopted Resolution 602 which amends several Principles and adds new Principle 20 entitled, “Safeguarding the Physical Safety 65 and Psychological Well-Being Of Jurors”

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Reasons for the Disappearing Jury Trial

The Commission releases its findings on the disappearing jury trial in both civil and criminal cases.

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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 co-authors, Commission members Judge William Caprathe, Paula-Hannaford-Agor, Stephanie McCoy Loquvam, and Professor Shari Seidman Diamond, provide useful guidelines for assessing and improving representatives in juries. This article is featured in the Spring 2016 issue of The Judges’ Journal, the Judicial Division’s quarterly magazine.

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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. This presentation will explore best practices and the related ethical limitations.

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The Importance of Civility in the Courtroom

A podcast featuring the Hon. James Holderman, Dick A. Semerdjian, and Mary Grace Chaeffer, on why legal professionals need to be cognizant of civility in the courtroom, the strategies they use to implement it, changes they’d like to see in the legal world regarding civility, and more.

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Principles for Juries and Jury Trials

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.

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Chief Judge James F. Holderman on Jury Trials

James F. Holderman, Chief Judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, who chaired the ABA Commission on the American Jury Project, underscores the importance of the “Principles for Juries & Jury Trials“ for creating better justice through better juries.

Contact Us

Kris Berliant, Program Manager, 800.238.2667 ext. 5700, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654