To the Editor:

This month we celebrated our independence and the freedoms we enjoy as a democratic nation. While our men and women are risking their lives abroad for these ideals, we at home can help protect democracy and show our patriotism in one simple way: By serving on a jury.

The jury trial is a cornerstone of our democratic system. James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, fought hard for the inclusion of what became our Sixth and Seventh Amendments—assuring us a “jury of our peers” in criminal and civil trials. Madison believed the jury trial would promote fairness and protect us from tyranny.

But while people in many countries around the world can only dream of such a legal system, our jury system is suffering statewide, and particularly in Baltimore, as too many of us take these fundamental rights for granted.

For example, reports show that approximately 800 prospective jurors are called to the Baltimore Circuit Courthouses each business day, but a mere 250 people answer the call. Of this small number, still more will come up with excuses for why they cannot serve.

Jury duty these days is too often considered a burden. Many of us do not recognize it as a privilege. How many of us groan when we get our summons in the mail, or have heard a co-worker regale us of their ability to be excused from a jury panel?

In today’s legal environment, serving on a jury when called is a responsibility everyone should take seriously in order to ensure that our courts are used for justice and that the truly injured receive fair compensation. Serving on a jury is one way to help fight lawsuit abuse and put an end to frivolous lawsuits, such as the one recently filed against KFC alleging that their fried chicken—yes, fried chicken—may actually be unhealthy.

Reasonable juries have the power to stop lawsuit abuse in courts by rendering fair and just verdicts. Even our politicians recognize the importance of jury service and are passing legislation to encourage people to answer the call. Last year in Maryland, the General Assembly increased the per juror daily allowance in some instances.

It’s up to all of us to answer the call when summoned. Jury duty is a fundamental right that we must all protect. As one of our Founding Fathers, John Adams, remarked, “Representative government and trial by jury are the heart and lungs of liberty.” When we serve on a jury, we uphold these ideals and help ensure our legal system is used for justice, not greed.

—Todd D. Lamb, Executive director,
Maryland Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (MDCALA)