OFFICE OF JURY COMMISSIONER APPEARS AT LAW DAY EVENTS

The Office of Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth is wrapping up a month of Law Day and Juror Appreciation Week events that has taken them all over the Commonwealth. The theme of Law Day and Juror Appreciation Week this year was “The American Jury: We the People in Action,” which provided the OJC with an excellent opportunity to recognize Massachusetts jurors and increase public awareness of the importance of jury service.

“The American jury system originated in Massachusetts with the Pilgrims, and in modern times the Commonwealth has been on the forefront of innovative jury practice,” said Pamela J. Wood, Jury Commissioner for the Commonwealth. Notably, Massachusetts was first to implement the One Day/One Trial system statewide.

The Office of Jury Commissioner kicked off its Law Day programs and appearances with a presentation to students at the Damian Funderburg Youth Program in Roxbury in late April, and concluded with an appearance at the West Roxbury Law Day ceremonies in May. In between, Commissioner Wood took part in the Franklin County Bar Association’s panel discussion on “Jury Duty: What Difference Does It Make?” in Greenfield, visited the Hampden County Hall of Justice in Springfield, and spoke at the Ipswich District Court celebration in Newburyport. Legal Counsel John Mulvee and Assistant Legal Counsel Kara Houghton supervised mock jury deliberations with high school students in Dorchester and Jamaica Plain as part of the Boston Bar Association’s “Law Day in the Schools” program. Outreach Coordinator Michael Ryan addressed high school students at Law Day ceremonies in Natick District Court, Attleboro District Court, and Newton District Court, and John Mulvee presented remarks at Law Day celebrations in Hingham District Court and West Roxbury District Court.

During Juror Appreciation Week, Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Margaret H. Marshall welcomed jurors at the Suffolk Superior Court jury pool, and Judge Nonnie S. Burnes, Chair of the Jury Management Advisory Committee, greeted the jurors and presented certificates of appreciation to Jury Pool Court Officers Ellen D’Ambrosio and Henry Cordero. At the OJC’s request, Governor Romney issued proclamations in recognition of Law Day and Juror Appreciation Week, and the OJC released new educational materials, including brochures, posters, and a letter of appreciation to the jurors of the Commonwealth.

Photographs from some of these events may be viewed by clicking on the link below. Additional photographs, and the text of Governor Romney’s proclamations, can be viewed on the OJC web site at www.massjury.com.

Photos from Law Day events