Juror Appreciation Week to be Observed Statewide May 14-18

(Sacramento, CA) – Central California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CCCALA) is celebrating Juror Appreciation Week (JAW) May 14-18, by drawing attention to the civic duty we all have as Americans to respond to jury summons. 

“Jury service is one of the best weapons Californians have in the fight against the lawsuit abuse. Frivolous lawsuits force our businesses to close, threaten our economy, jeopardize our access to health care and raise our cost of living,” CCCALA president Diann Rogers says.  “When people choose to make excuses instead of serve, they’re surrendering the legal system to those who abuse it, contributing to the very problems that recently led the Institute for Legal Reform to rank our legal system 45th out of the 50 states.”

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.  Only 32% percent of Sacramento area residents report when summoned when called. (239,000 summoned, 76,500 respond – according to the Sacramento Jury Commissioner’s office) The good news is that of those 76,500 (nearly 68%) – 52,000 complete their service in one day! Additionally, 48,000 of those who reported completed their service “on call” and did not have to report. CALA wants to encourage more people to serve when called, saying that it’s in the best interests of both plaintiffs and defendants. 

“Instead of looking at jury service as a chore, every citizen should be proud to know that they play a vital role in deciding the validity of the facts in a case,” said Rogers.  “As Americans, we cherish our Constitutional right to a jury of our peers, but our peers must serve when called.”

CALA is also encouraging employers to make a dedicated effort to support their employees to serve when called.  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. 

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, something Rogers says should not be overlooked in discussing the state’s pressing needs.

To highlight JAW this year, Central California CALA is participating in business expos with both the Sacramento Metro Chamber and the Folsom Chamber. We are also distributing public service announcements, appearing on local radio shows and submitting editorials to regional publications.

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. Central California CALA currently has over 3,000 supporters throughout the Central Valley and Sacramento region. Visit www.StopBadLawsuits.com.