LaGuardia High School Students to Participate in 'Dialogue on the American Jury'

LaGuardia High School Students to Participate in 'Dialogue on the American Jury'

CHICAGO, April 13 /PRNewswire/ -- New York State Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye will lead a Dialogue on the American Jury on April 20 with American Bar Association President Robert J. Grey Jr. and ABA Section of Litigation Chair Dennis J. Drasco.

The dialogue will take place from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for Music and the Performing Arts, at West 65th Street and Amsterdam Avenue in New York.

Participating in the discussion will be 25 social studies students from LaGuardia, who will join in the discussion to express their views on the American legal system and jury service, especially timely against the backdrop of several high profile trials currently in the news.

The dialogue is being held in conjunction with the ABA Section of Litigation's annual spring conference, April 20-23 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

As part of the ABA's year long effort to increase public awareness about the importance of our prized jury system, the ABA Commission on the American Jury developed the Dialogue on the American Jury for use with high school students and community groups.

Grey appointed the commission, chaired by Kaye, which is charged with strengthening public outreach and public education about the importance of jury service as a high calling of citizenship and an important ways to participate in government. A companion group, the American Jury Project, completed work on principles for jury service that were adopted as ABA policy by the House of Delegates in February. The principles address the right to a jury trial, jury selection, conducting a jury trial, deliberations, post verdict activity, and principles and practices relating to jury management.

Drasco is calling on all section members to hold dialogues in schools in their communities as part of a section public service initiative.

"The dialogue offers lawyers an opportunity to share the values of our jury system with students, and impress upon them the importance of jury service in protecting our rights and helping solve problems," said Drasco. "I am excited to help lead a dialogue with the Chief Judge and President Grey."

Dialogues are being held around the country, sponsored by numerous legal groups including state and local bar associations. Many programs are being held conjunction with Law Day, May 1. The theme for Law Day is "The American Jury: We the People in Action."

The ABA Section of Litigation, with more than 76,000 members, includes trial lawyers, judges, and others involved in all aspects of litigation and the dispute resolution process. The section is dedicated to promoting justice both domestically and internationally and enhancing public understanding of and respect for the legal profession.

With more than 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law in a democratic society.

For more information on the ABA Dialogue program, visit http://www.abanet.org/jury/home ; for information on the ABA Section of Litigation meeting visit http://www.abanet.org/litigation .

Source: American Bar Association

CONTACT: Deborah Weixl for ABA Media Relations, +1-312-988-6126, or (Cell) +1-847-902-9019, or Stephanie Ortbals-Tibbs for ABA, +1-202-662-1091

Web site: http://www.abanet.org/ http://www.abanet.org/litigation http://www.abanet.org/jury/home http://www.abanews.org/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Reporters are welcome to attend the dialogue program on April 20 at LaGuardia High School, located at 100 Amsterdam Avenue, New York (at West 65th Street and Amsterdam Avenue). The school has asked that reporters have valid photo identification. Admittance to the school will begin at 9:15 a.m. and reporters are asked to enter through the West 65 Street entry. Media registration will be on site and ABA badges will be provided. If you have any questions, or to pre-register, contact Deborah Weixl in ABA Media Relations or Stephanie Ortbals-Tibbs, numbers below

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