THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY LEACH, GREENLEAF, STACK, TARTAGLIONE, FONTANA, KASUNIC, COSTA, DINNIMAN, BOSCOLA, RAFFERTY, ALLOWAY, PILEGGI, ERICKSON, WARD, SCHWANK AND PIPPY, MAY 21, 2012

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, MAY 21, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the week of May 21 through 27, 2012, as "Juror

Appreciation Week" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, For more than 200 years, Americans have benefited

from the protection offered by the right to trial by jury

guaranteed by the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of the

United States; and

WHEREAS, Since the Bill of Rights was ratified in December

1791, the jury has acted as an unbiased finder of truth and the

most elemental representative body of all citizens and thus has

played a pivotal role in balancing the scales of justice,

equalizing the rights of the poor and powerless with the

privileges of the rich and powerful, securing other allowed

rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and, most importantly,

extending and preserving democracy; and

WHEREAS, Every year more than 225,000 Pennsylvanians report

for jury duty and more than 60,000 actually serve as jurors in

both civil and criminal trials; and

WHEREAS, Only when citizens support the jury system and

appear when summoned can this pillar of our democracy fully

protect the rights of all citizens; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of May 21

through 27, 2012, as "Juror Appreciation Week" in Pennsylvania.