Juror Appreciation Week 2019
Cleveland: Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court celebrated Juror Appreciation Week May 6-10, 2019!
It was an opportunity to recognize the Cuyahoga County residents who have completed jury duty, to highlight the honor and importance of serving on a jury, and express the Court’s appreciation.
“I believe there are three ways you can truly serve your country,” Administrative Judge John J. Russo told new jurors . “One is to enlist in the military, the second is to exercise your right to vote, and the third is to serve on jury duty. “
In 2018, Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court had 14,278 people report for jury duty. 317 jury panels were summoned to our courtrooms on criminal cases in 2018 and 181 criminal trials took place, while the others often settled due to the mere presence of the jury!
Jurors that week were provided with free coffee and tea, raffles for gift cards, and visits from some of our Judges.
Jurors over the past year also were encouraged to share any projects they worked on while they served. There was a display outside the Jury Assembly Room on the fourth floor of the Justice Center that includes origami, photography, quilting and paper-design.
95-percent of the world’s jury trials are held here in America. The Sixth Amendment says, “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury...” That mean juries are one of the ways America guarantees the rights of citizens who are on trial, but it only works when we all do our part.
“We want every juror to feel appreciated and to know how much we value their time and commitment to our system of justice,” added Judge Russo. “I want to thank the jurors who have served in the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and those who will be here in the future.”
Click here to read Judge John J. Russo's 2017 editorial about the importance of jury duty!