Voting is a right we all share. Most of us would fight to preserve that right if it were threatened. But what about serving on a jury? Would we battle as hard for that privilege?

For many, finding a jury summons in the mail immediately conjures a number of excuses for not wanting to serve:

“I’ll lose too much money away from my business.”

“My boss won’t like it.”

“It’s just a hassle I don’t need.”

But after all the excuses are made, one question remains. If you don’t serve, who will?

In recent months, our firm has been criticized as a result of several multi-million dollar jury awards we have won for clients in cases involving nursing home neglect. The nursing home industry dismisses these verdicts and criticizes them as the acts of wild, runaway juries. But who were these “runaway” jurors? Politicians? Professional judges? Government appointees? No, they were farmers, business owners, factory workers, stay-at-home moms, retired military personnel and even ministers. In short, they were people like you.

These jurors took time out their busy lives -- in some cases, several weeks -- to be part of the cornerstone of our democracy. Why was it important for these people to serve? Because the judgments they made were about what is and what is not acceptable in our society. It’s that simple.

Do we want these types of decisions to be made by only the wealthy, who can afford the time? How about only government employees who won’t lose any pay? Or by people without jobs? Do we want to leave these important decisions about our community to political appointees, bureaucrats, or politicians?

No. Juries need all of us.

A wide variety of people offer a wide variety of views and viewpoints which, when taken together, represent the conscience of a community. And that’s how justice is served and how everyone’s rights are fully protected. Whether it’s a civil case or a criminal trial. Few other rights or privileges have as much impact on the way our society operates than that of serving on a jury. If 12 people of varying opinions, views and beliefs can agree, for example, that a particular nursing home has provided poor care to its residents and should be punished for putting profits over people, then they have made a statement that will be heard far outside the jury box.

Only through the juror’s voice -- your voice -- can a loud message be sent about the type of justice that you, as a citizen of Arkansas, demand. Now the nursing home industry is trying to influence the legislature through intensive lobbying efforts to restrict the ability of jurors to make fair and impartial decisions.

At election time, you are one of thousands, even millions, going into the election booth to decide who will represent us in Government. In the jury booth, you are the representative of your community, and instead of being one of thousands, as you are on election day, you are one of only 12.

Make a statement. Make a difference. Serve your community as a juror.

Brian Reddick is a lawyer with the law firm of Wilkes & McHugh, P.A. The firm represents nursing home residents in Arkansas and throughout the Southeast. He can be reached at 1-800-255-5070.

 

 

 

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