The right to a trial by jury is the most important part of the American legal system. Without men and women, who are willing to sacrifice their time away from work, family and friends to render a verdict in a case, our justice system would not be the model that it is today. Jurors perform a valuable service for society. Jurors should feel good about their service and know that it is rewarding and important to the parties, lawyers and judges. However, most people seek to avoid jury duty, which is a shame.

The week of April 29-May 3, 2013 is Juror Appreciation Week in Missouri. The Missouri Supreme Court first recognized Juror Appreciation Week in 2000. The original Order of the Court states that “Each year thousands of Missourians perform one of the most significant civic duties granted to citizens — they serve as fair and impartial jurors in communities throughout the state. To honor those citizens who have performed their civic duty, all Missouri courts are directed to observe Juror Appreciation Week…”

We should recognize and honor jurors because they determine the facts of the case that they are hearing. Our legal system requires that someone determine the facts of a disputed case, and it is good and proper that twelve of our peers do so. We should honor and recognize jurors because they serve as the conscience of our community. Jurors have the ability to stand up for and enforce what is right and to compensate the harms suffered by individuals in the community. We should honor jurors because they help to balance power, keeping a judge from making every single determination in a case.

At Kennedy, Kennedy, Robbins & Yarbro, LC, we are trial lawyers, seeking to protect the rights of our clients and to seek compensation for our clients when they have been wronged. Without jurors, we would be unable to do our part. We thank those who have served, and will serve as jurors in the future, for their service to the legal system and to the country.