| The Citizens Jury Project was created in 1995, following a recommendation
made by the Jury Project, a blue-ribbon panel formed by Chief Judge
Judith Kaye designed to review and reform jury service in New York
State. This panel, composed of judges, attorneys, and educators, called
for the creation of an ombudservice to assist jurors with complaints,
particularly about employers who violate New York law by penalizing
their employees for missing work because of jury service. The Citizens
Jury Project does this, and serves as an advocate for individual jurors
on a variety of issues, from summonsing to dismissal. Through ongoing
data collection and analysis, the Citizens Jury Project strives to
promote systemic reforms that improve conditions for all jurors.
The Citizens Jury Project was created and initially implemented
by the Vera
Institute of Justice - a nonprofit organization dedicated to
enhancing justice in institutions of government - with grants from
the Commonwealth Fund and the New York Community Trust. The project
was transferred permanently to The
Fund for Modern Courts in April 2000.
Currently, the Citizens
Jury Project operates nine ombudservice booths, located in the 60, 100 & 111 Centre Street Courthouses in Manhattan, the 320 Jay St. Courthouse and 360 Adams Courthouse in Brooklyn, the 120-55 Queens Boulevard Courthouse in Queens, the 215 East 161 Street in the Bronx, and
the 100 Supreme Court Drive Courthouse in Minneola-Nassau County, Long Island. These booths are staffed by trained interns who assist jurors and document their
comments and concerns about jury service. In addition to our in-court
advocacy, CJP also surveys jurors in courts throughout New York
and participates in collaborative research projects with the Office
of Court Administration.
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Learn about internship
opportunities with The Citizens Jury Project. |
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