Jury Service and Appreciation
Why are juries important?
Jury service is crucial because it upholds the principle of a fair trial. It allows ordinary citizens to contribute to the justice system, ensuring diverse perspectives in the decision-making process. Strong participation from a diversity of people in jury service is essential for maintaining public trust and confidence in our courts.
How CCE is Helping
We are dedicated to enhancing the jury service experience and encouraging greater participation by D.C. residents. Here’s how our work is making a difference:
- Advocating for Improvements: CCE actively advocates for enhancements to jury service, such as increasing juror pay and improving the overall experience. We have helped change court policies to allow more returning citizens to serve on D.C. juries. Our goal is to make jury duty more accessible and rewarding for everyone.
- Campaigns to Increase Jury Service Rates: Since CCE’s founding, we have conducted educational campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of jury duty and to encourage more citizens to participate. We also host School Jury Education Program sessions where D.C. judges go to local high schools to engage future jurors on their important civic role.
- Juror Appreciation Week: We host events during Jury Appreciation Week to honor and recognize the vital constitutional role jurors play in our justice system.
Jury Project Chaired by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson and Former Attorney General Irvin Nathan
In 2015, CCE released a report on D.C.’s jury systems in Jury Service Revisited: Upgrades for the 21st Century, building on our long history of improving jury service. We brought together more than 40 lawyers, judges, and former jurors to evaluate current practices and make recommendations for improvements on juror care, jury pool and summoning, and trial structure. We are proud that the project was co-chaired by now-Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson when she was a District Court judge, and former Attorney General Irvin Nathan, who later became CCE’s President.
A Washington Post editorial about the report said its recommendations “must not be consigned to the shelves and instead should provide the basis for needed action.” As one example of progress made following the report, in 2020, D.C. Superior Court announced changes to its Jury Plan, allowing returning citizens to serve as jurors one year after completing their sentence. In a Law360 article, CCE Executive Director Misty Thomas Zaleski celebrated this good news, and noted that, “our courts and lawmakers must continue to address other barriers that may hinder jury service or other civic participation for returning citizens."
What can you do?
Always answer your jury summons! Widespread jury participation is vital for the functioning of our justice system. Here’s a few things you can expect as a juror at the D.C. Superior Court:
- Payment! Jurors receive a $50 daily stipend if your job does not pay you for your jury service, as well as $7 per day to pay for travel for all jurors
- Free childcare
- WiFi and a business center