Press Releases | UCS Jury Pool News | Juror Appreciation Week

THE JURY SYSTEM

"the only anchor yet imagined by man by which a government can be held to the principles of its constitution." - Thomas Jefferson

• The Constitution of the United States provides that the trial of all crimes, except in case of impeachment, shall be by jury.
  
• The jury system evolved over 300 years in the Unites States and is specifically expressed in the 5th, 6th, and 7th amendments to the constitution.
  
• Jury service is a political, as well as, Democratic institution. Any American citizen who is able and is 18 years of age or older has the right and the obligation to serve as a juror.
  
• It is especially through the jury system that citizens learn self-government by actually participating in the third branch of government–the judiciary.
  
• In New York State over 500,000 citizens are called annually to serve and Onondaga County contributes over 28,000 to those who are called.
  
• Each year the third week of November is set aside for Juror Appreciation to demonstrate to the community and all those who serve the importance of their jury service to Democracy.

"All races and religions; that's America to me." - Earl Robinson

" Our civilization has decided, and very justly decided, that determining the guilt or innocence of men is a thing too important to be trusted to trained men... [w]hen [ our society ] wishes anything done which is really serious, it collects twelve of the ordinary men standing around."

G. K. Chesterton

PRESS RELEASES

Courthouse banner lauds jurors on postage stamp
Published on November 11, 2007, Post-Standard, The (Syracuse, NY)

Time between jury duty stints now eight years in county
Published on March 13, 2005, UCS Press Clips.

JUSTICE BLIND? NO WAY
Published on March 11, 2005, Post-Standard, The (Syracuse, NY)

Jury Duty - Town Meeting (Originally broadcast May 2, 2005, News10Now) PLAY video or READ a summary.
Video Playtime 0:50 Min., Size 4.4MB

Hour CNY - Jury Duty: Democracy in Action (Originally broadcast on May 2005, WCNY TV) PLAY video or READ a summary.
Video Playtime 16:50 Min., Size 70.6MB

Interim Report Released (Press Release and Interim Report) June 17, 2004

Chief Judge's Appointment of New Commission Marks Start of Second Phase of Jury Reform in New York (April 9, 2003)

Guidelines for Jury Duty have changed (Originally broadcast December, 10, 2003, News10Now) PLAY video or READ a summary.
Video Playtime 3:05 Min., Size 37.7MB

Commission on the Jury public hearing transcript (Sept. 9, 2003)

NOTE: Videos are in mpeg format and can be played with a variety of media players.

ONONDAGA COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF JURORS CELEBRATES JUROR APPRECIATION WEEK

The Fifth Judicial District Administrative Judge's Office and Onondaga County Commissioner of Jurors sponsors Juror Appreciation Week, in November, to recognize Onondaga County residents who have completed jury duty and to highlight the honor and importance of serving on a jury.

Included in the week’s activities are free breakfast, coffee mugs, pens, calendars, and key chains given to those jurors serving that week. Often, presentations are made highlighting the importance of Jury Service.

According to District Administrative Judge, Hon. James C. Tormey, the objective of Juror Appreciation Week is to show past and prospective jurors that their contributions are greatly appreciated by the Court.“Jury service is a vital aspect of our government,” said (Tormey). “When you serve as juror, you not only serve your country, but you serve as an integral part of the justice system.”

“We want every juror to feel appreciated and to know how much we value their time and commitment to our system of justice,” (Tormey) said.