Why Jury Duty Matters: A Citizen’s Guide to Constitutional Action

As I was summoned for the second time as a juror, it was more informative to learn about the US citizen's duty. This book is kept wisely for the next time. Always reading books are the best life lessons.

Even though most Americans seem to groan at the thought of a jury summons arriving in the mail, most seem to appreciate the importance of the role of the jury in the justice system and consider it important. In Why Jury Duty Matters, the author explains the origins, purpose, and importance of the jury in modern America.The book is mainly a guide to educate Americans on why they should take jury duty seriously and its importance in the judiciary. He lays out several arguments in favor of the jury trial. For example, he notes that judges and lawyers often become used to the courtroom and the day-to-day realities of the job, but for each and every trial, the jury is unique. Each jury can take on a fresh look at the case when rendering a verdict. The main purpose of juries is to form a check on state power by giving average citizens the ultimate power to give a judgment in a trial. The book notes that jurors usually work hard to come to a fair conclusion and how multiple personalities offer different viewpoints on the same subject.The author notes that historically the jury system was subject to issues. Especially in southern states, African Americans were often denied the right to serve on juries and, conversely, all-white juries would sometimes unfairly convict innocent blacks of crimes. Women were often denied the right to serve on juries as well for some time. The author notes that even today the jury system, like any other human institution, is not perfect and sometimes comes up with disagreeable results. Nevertheless, he offers much praise for the institution and how it offers average Americans a role to play in government.I found this book to be an interesting overview of the importance of jury service. This is a good book for Americans to read to remind them of its importance and hopefully foster a greater respect for those that serve on juries.

There's is plenty to like about this book, but it tends to read at times like a publication of the League of Women's Voters. Uncritical praise of the Constitution makes a fetish of a document that demands critical appraisal, and not unflinching adoration.Illustrative of the book's weakness is the following: "The genius of our jury system was to set up a mechanism so that both sides believe that they have a fair shot at winning the case. They show up because they have faith that the system will be fair."Really? Most criminal defense lawyers know a darker truth: Trials often take place because there is no hope of a just outcome -- the plea offer is too high, the charges lodged are disproportionate to the conduct alleged. Often folks go to trial not in the hope that they will get a fair trial, but in the desperate illusion that a miracle may rescue them from the inevitable.The author knows this. He was a public defender in the District of Columbia. So why is he writing with such dewy-eyed naivete? He's left the practice of law to become a law professor, teaching now at the David A. Clarke School of Law in the District of Columbia. This book won't get him tenure in a law school, but, frankly, it could get him appointed a judgeship. As I read, I could see him sitting on a bench, clad in his black robe, and telling jurors just how lucky they were to serve. The work has the sensibility of civics textbook.Perhaps there is nothing wrong with this. But I would have liked to see more on jury nullification, on the truly radical potential that jurors have to find facts and challenge misapplications of the law. Instead, the work read like an apologia for the middle of the road.The best thing about the book is the lavish footnotes. The author reliably cites to case law and can be used as a handy reference guide. The citations to law review articles and other research are less reliable. On occasion, the author cites an article that seemingly has nothing to do with the point he just made.Even so, I can't argue against the central premise: Jury service is important. I was disappointed in the book, but don't regret the time I spent reading it. I'll put this book on the shelf right next to The Power of Positive Thinking.

When I got a notice to report for jusry duty in Washington, DC Surperior Court I of course dreaded the prospect of sitting around all day with a bunch of strangers. And with the District one day or one trial I was also hopping not to be selected for a jury. I decided to get this book to read. It had an interesting title and while I kind of knew why it mattered I had the day so why not read the book. It was an eye opening book. I reccomend that every US citizen read this book or at the very least they make copies of this book available in every jury waiting room in the country. The author bring to crystal clearity the historical context of our jury system and why it needs to held in very high esteem by everyone. There are many things we take for granted as citizens in this country and our freedom is one. I was in the military and I vote every election, but jury duty is a life long committment to our mutual freedom. It is how the common person get to say about someone's freedom or if someone is liable for damages. I can say that I read the book in one day and sent my copy to the Chief Justice, Satterfield, of DC Surperior Court for his reading pleasure.