The Problem

The Seventh Amendment to the US Constitution and provisions of most state constitutions guarantee citizens the right of trial by jury in common-law civil cases. But it is beyond dispute that the civil jury trial is a vanishing feature of the American legal landscape. In 1962, juries resolved 5.5 percent of federal civil cases; since 2005, the rate has been below 1 percent. In 1997, there were 3,369 civil jury trials in Texas state courts; in 2012, even as the number of lawsuits had risen substantially, there were fewer than 1,200. Similar trends are evident in states across the nation.

What are the causes of the civil jury trial’s near extinction? What are the consequences—for the legal system and society more broadly? And for those who advocate preserving and revitalizing the civil jury trial, what steps might be taken? These will be the core areas of inquiry for the new Civil Jury Project at NYU School of Law.

The Solution

The nationwide decline in civil jury trials means that fewer cases have the benefit of citizen input, fewer case precedents develop, fewer jurors understand the system, and fewer judges and lawyers learn how to try jury cases effectively. That is to say, it’s a serious problem. But what can you do about it?

Here are three recommendations for how you can help stave off the creeping collapse of one of our nation’s most essential institutions:

First, tell your friends about America’s disappearing juries. There has been a myth in this country—mostly propagated by powerful social and political interests—of an explosion in so-called “frivolous” litigation over the last 30 years. This is simply not true. Enemies of the jury system use this misconception to promote their agenda and pass restrictions on your rights. Remind your fellow citizens that jury service is as important a form of democratic participation as voting.

Second, pay attention to your local and state politics. Part of what has caused the long decline in jury trials is the result of tort reform legislation around the nation. We will do our best to bring attention to legislative attacks on the civil jury, but you can also search online to track developments. Many states post proposed legislation online while it is still being discussed. Do not hesitate to contact your representative and tell them not to trample your Seventh Amendment rights.

Finally, follow the Civil Jury Project at New York University School of Law here and on social media. The Civil Jury Project is the nation’s only non-profit academic institution dedicated exclusively to studying and bettering the civil jury and raising public awareness of its troubling decline. You can follow us on Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram to find out about our events, research. If we work together, we can help secure the liberty promised and guaranteed by the Seventh Amendment for a future generation.

Our Mission

The Civil Jury Project will:

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It will undertake an empirical assessment of the current role of the jury in our civil justice system, the reasons for its decline, and the impact of that decline on the functioning of the civil justice system overall. The basic question is whether jury trials continue to serve the role anticipated by the Framers of the Constitution. Relatedly, it is important to examine the consequences of the decline and what institutions currently fill the void.

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It will create education programs and publicity outlets for studies and policy proposals on the jury trial.

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It will re-evaluate ways in which juries are constituted and jury trials are conducted. The question is not simply whether there should be a right to trial by jury, but how that right can be exercised consistent with basic commitments to speedy and efficient resolution of civil disputes.

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[one_half] One of your first instincts when you receive a jury summons might be to throw it away and pretend like it never arrived. This, of course, is not the best course of action, as shirking jury service is a criminal offense in all jurisdictions, punishable by monetary fines or even jail time. In fact, Los Angeles County has fined hooky-playing residents over $940,000 dollars, and Massachusetts fined nearly 48,000 people $2000 each in 2003. Skipping out on jury service can be costly, indeed. But it is not merely the risk of punishment that should motivate you to participate. To the contrary, by serving on a jury you contribute to one of America’s central liberties: The right to trial by jury. It is a right that our Founders took so seriously that it is the only one mentioned in all three of our founding documents—the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. It is a right that people have fought and died for since the very beginning of our country. It is a fundamental part of our government structure and the only opportunity for ordinary people to participate in the execution of their laws. [/one_half] [one_half_last] Unfortunately, over the past three decades, powerful social interests have conspired to remove that power from people like you. They have launched mass media campaigns to convince the public that there is a crisis of “frivolous litigation.” They have lobbied politicians to implement laws restricting the rights of meritorious litigants all over this country. And they have snuck clauses into agreement terms that have shackled the courthouse doors. The result has been that the use of juries in this country is at the lowest it has ever been in our nation’s history. You can help change that. So why shouldn’t you throw away that summons? Because jury service is not a duty, it’s an opportunity. It is an opportunity to flex your democratic muscles. It’s an opportunity to take back control of your own destiny and the future of your community. Jury service is an opportunity to make your voice heard. [/one_half_last]

The Problem

The Solution

Our Mission

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