FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: PETER BYLSMA
PHONE: 310-795-8532
May 7, 2006
(Los Angeles, CA) – Los Angeles Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is promoting Juror Appreciation Week (JAW) May 8-12, by drawing attention to two important studies that reveal the deplorable state of California's jury system.
The first study, conducted for CALA by Dr. Daniel Klerman of the University of Southern California Law School, found that more than a third of Californians summoned for jury service either fail to respond or request to be excused from service. The second, conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, ranked California 44th and Los Angeles last in the nation for legal fairness, and the State an abysmal 48th in terms of juries' predictability.
JAW, observed annually during the second full week in May, was established by an Assembly resolution in 1998 to show gratitude to those who participate in jury service.
Although the CALA and U.S. Chamber studies were conducted in 2002 and 2006, respectively, CALA executive director Peter Bylsma sees a connection. "Jury service is one of the best weapons Californians have against lawsuit abuse," Bylsma said. "When people make excuses instead of serving, they surrender the legal system to those who would abuse it, delay justice for those in need and contribute to the problems that make our legal system a laughingstock around the world."
Since 1999, CALA has been observing JAW as a way to educate the public on the importance of jury service as both a right and a responsibility. CALA encourages people to serve when called because it serves the best interests of both plaintiffs and defendants. CALA also encourages employers to make a dedicated effort to encourage their employees to serve. Many potential jurors cite job conflicts as the reason they're unable to serve. According to the CALA study, "financial hardship" was the number one reason cited in asking to be excused.
"When citizens fail to serve the result can be juror shortages, which only delays justice for those seeking their day in court," Bylsma said. "Instead of looking at jury service as a chore, every citizen should be proud to know that they play a vital role in making our system work," said Bylsma. "As Americans, we can cherish our Constitutional right to a jury of our peers and to get that our peers must serve when called."
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse is a nonprofit, grassroots public education organization dedicated to serving as a watchdog over the legal system and those who would seek to abuse it for undeserved gain. For more information, visit www.losangelescala.org.
