Survey Questions Juries And Civil Justice System
From the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
While the majority of respondents in a recently released poll expressed confidence in the civil justice system, 41 percent doubted the fairness of the system.
In the poll released by DRI–The Voice of the Defense Bar, 58 percent of the respondents expressed confidence that the civil justice system produces fair results, including 9 percent who remain "very confident."
But of the 41 percent lacking confidence in the system, 16 percent indicated no confidence in civil court results, the poll says.
"What this points out to me is there is obviously a lot of work to do to educate the public about the civil justice system and what a wonderful system it is," said John R. Kouris, DRI's executive director.
Langer Research Associates conducted the random telephone survey in August of 1,020 adults. The poll results stemmed from interviews of people representing a cross section of racial, gender, geographic, socio-economic and political views, Kouris said.
"We insisted that this poll be conducted in a professional and totally unbiased manner and we were prepared to accept the results whether or not we agreed," Kouris said.
The poll marks the initial research effort by DRI's new Center for Law and Public Policy, which seeks to educate the public about civil justice issues, he said. Chicago-based DRI consists of about 22,000 members, most in the U.S.
Chief U.S. District Judge James F. Holderman, said regarding the poll results, "I agree that we need to continue with education (of the public) regarding the justice system in America."
Holderman said he remained encouraged by the poll results showing 75 percent of the respondents view jury service as a civic duty and that 81 percent of the former jurors considered the experience positive.
Jerry A. Latherow, a partner at Latherow Law Office and immediate past president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, said, "If you accept these numbers as factual, you have to put the focus on that 81 percent of the people who served on juries and saw it as a positive experience."
As for the 41 percent lacking confidence in the civil justice system, he said, "If they were to go through the system as jurors, I think they would get more (respect) for the system and add to the 81 percent who were positive."
Cook County Circuit Judge William D. Maddux, the Law Division's presiding judge, said he's "unconvinced that anything is established by this survey. If I knew that this was a survey of people with experience with the court one way or another, I might be impressed because when you consider those who have experienced the courthouse in an adversarial system, 50 percent are losers.
"I've never heard a person who lost a case blame themselves. It's always the judge."
Read more in our daily News Update...
From the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin
While the majority of respondents in a recently released poll expressed confidence in the civil justice system, 41 percent doubted the fairness of the system.
In the poll released by DRI–The Voice of the Defense Bar, 58 percent of the respondents expressed confidence that the civil justice system produces fair results, including 9 percent who remain "very confident."
But of the 41 percent lacking confidence in the system, 16 percent indicated no confidence in civil court results, the poll says.
"What this points out to me is there is obviously a lot of work to do to educate the public about the civil justice system and what a wonderful system it is," said John R. Kouris, DRI's executive director.
Langer Research Associates conducted the random telephone survey in August of 1,020 adults. The poll results stemmed from interviews of people representing a cross section of racial, gender, geographic, socio-economic and political views, Kouris said.
"We insisted that this poll be conducted in a professional and totally unbiased manner and we were prepared to accept the results whether or not we agreed," Kouris said.
The poll marks the initial research effort by DRI's new Center for Law and Public Policy, which seeks to educate the public about civil justice issues, he said. Chicago-based DRI consists of about 22,000 members, most in the U.S.
Chief U.S. District Judge James F. Holderman, said regarding the poll results, "I agree that we need to continue with education (of the public) regarding the justice system in America."
Holderman said he remained encouraged by the poll results showing 75 percent of the respondents view jury service as a civic duty and that 81 percent of the former jurors considered the experience positive.
Jerry A. Latherow, a partner at Latherow Law Office and immediate past president of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association, said, "If you accept these numbers as factual, you have to put the focus on that 81 percent of the people who served on juries and saw it as a positive experience."
As for the 41 percent lacking confidence in the civil justice system, he said, "If they were to go through the system as jurors, I think they would get more (respect) for the system and add to the 81 percent who were positive."
Cook County Circuit Judge William D. Maddux, the Law Division's presiding judge, said he's "unconvinced that anything is established by this survey. If I knew that this was a survey of people with experience with the court one way or another, I might be impressed because when you consider those who have experienced the courthouse in an adversarial system, 50 percent are losers.
"I've never heard a person who lost a case blame themselves. It's always the judge."
Read more in our daily News Update...