FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Linda Okun
PHONE: (626) 824-8927
May 10, 2004
Los Angeles, Calif. – The Los Angeles
Board of Supervisors has joined Los Angeles Citizens Against Lawsuit
Abuse (CALA) and the California State Legislature to proclaim
May 10-14 as “Juror Appreciation Week”.
In a proclamation dated May 4, 2004 the Los Angeles
Board of Supervisors quoted Thomas Jefferson, stating that “the
jury is the only anchor ever yet imagined by man by which a government
can be held to the principles of its constitution,” and
adding “the jury is the ultimate safeguard of our civil
rights.”
Juror Appreciation Week, 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 duty.
CALA states participating in jury service when called is one of
the best ways ordinary citizens can fight lawsuit abuse.
“An informed jury pool is the best tool
for reigning in a civil justice system that, because of its complexity,
has become out of control with lawsuit abuse,” said Linda
Okun, executive director of Los Angeles CALA. “Adding to
the problem is that most people look to a jury summons as a test
of their escape skills, not a chance to have a positive impact
on the justice system.”
California law was changed so that prospective
jurors are only required to serve on a one-day, one-trial basis,
meaning that if they aren’t placed on a jury after one day
of service, their commitment is fulfilled.
“Hopefully this will encourage more professional
people, educators, entrepreneurs and others to stop making excuses
and say `yes, I will serve on a jury’” Ms. Okun said.
“And to those people, our hat’s off. We thank the
County of Los Angeles for joining us in this effort to acknowledge
those who don’t make excuses and serve when called.”
For more information on these issues, please contact Los Angeles
CALA at (626) 824-8927 or maryann@maryannmaloney.com
.
Linda Okun is the Executive Director of Citizens
against Lawsuit Abuse in Los Angeles, a nonprofit, grassroots
public education organization. Write to her c/o CALA at P.O. Box
262 - Glendora, CA 91740, or via email at maryann@maryannmaloney.com.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you would like a CALA
speaker to address your organization or some information for your
organization's newsletter, let us know today.
CALA is a nonprofit, grass roots, public education
organization dedicated to serving as a watchdog over the legal
system and those who would seek to abuse it for undeserved gain.
More than 9,000 citizens and taxpayers are Los Angeles CALA supporters.
