At Panter, Panter, and Sampedro we strongly believe in the Jury System. At the heart of American Democracy is the right to a jury trial by your peers. What that means and how it has worked is up for debate, but the ability to have your legal issue tried by a jury is a fundamental right inherent in our legal system. Whether your matter is criminal, civil, or any other form of legal redress, you should have the right to a jury trial.
In fact, the Jury System is so inherent to the United States justice system that by the time the Bill of Rights was signed in 1791 the right to a trial by jury was universally popular. Many historians trace back the proceeding’s origins to the Magna Carta in 1215, as the system had already become a regular proceeding during the reign of Henry II in England.
When our staff is called to Jury Duty we take it seriously. We encourage our colleagues to participate in the system which is a duty, responsibility, and privilege. To serve as a juror is to really grasp what we do at Panter, Panter, and Sampedro. We represent individuals injured due to the negligence of others. And although an overwhelming majority of our cases resolve without the need for an actual jury trial, it is the ability of our attorneys to go to trial that allows us to maximize the end result for our clients.
Our Legal Assistant Candace Cuevas was recently called to serve as a juror. This meant some sacrifice from her, as well as from our firm. Candace reported to Jury Duty on a Monday and the trial continued for a week. Candace was then called back to deliberate the following week. Time out of the office was indeed an inconvenience, but one which we at Panter, Panter, and Sampedro respected and encouraged. We are very proud of Candace for participating in the experience.
We asked Candace a series of questions, so that others who are not familiar with jury proceedings may learn from her example. What follows is Candace’s experience of her first time as a juror in her own words.
What does participating in jury duty mean to you?
At first, I didn’t know what to expect. I had never been selected for Jury Duty before. It felt like a burden to have to miss a day of work to go, but while I was there I grasped a different sense of understanding of why I work so hard every day and why my bosses and coworkers work so hard every day.
For the past five years, I have always been on the other side working on cases. Seeing plaintiffs and defense attorneys plead their cases, go over evidence, and find witnesses to support their facts was really something I admired. When I came back to the office, I told my employers that I would love to see them at trial even just once. The experience I had is something I’ll never forget, and which I hold dearly. Not everyone is lucky enough to be on a jury.
How long does a session last per court date?
Monday through Wednesday we were there from 9 am to 5 pm, and as we got closer to the end of the week, we would go from 8 am to 6 or 6:30 pm in order to complete as much as possible.
How were you personally selected to participate in the trial? What were the qualifications for jury selection?
I remember they asked us all sorts of questions from our personal experiences dealing with attorneys, to job qualifications, family matters, and finally personal thoughts and feelings. I remember answering that I worked for a personal injury law firm, which primarily handles plaintiff work, and they followed up with questions such as what my role in the firm was, how long have I worked for law firms and my personal opinion on questions like if I always believe plaintiffs should be awarded maximum compensation for their injury. To the last question, I answered that they should be awarded by the extent of their injuries, if applicable.
How did your employer support you in this process?
Panter, Panter, and Sampedro were incredibly supportive throughout the entire process. I remember having a conversation with Mitch Panter when I first received the notice to appear, and he was extremely happy for me and said that he believed I had a chance of being selected. At the time, I was anxious and nervous because I did not know what to expect. When I actually had to make the call to advise that I was selected, they were very supportive and told me not to worry and to just keep them informed of when I would be back in the office. I emailed them almost every day giving them updates like how long the case would continue, and whether I would be reporting to jury duty the following day. Not only my bosses but my coworkers also supported me. When I was gone for a whole week, they helped pick up the burden of my absence, which I was extremely grateful for when I returned.
What was the key thing you learned from the experience?
What I learned the most about my experience was how important our Judicial System is and how every person deserves a fair trial. We live in a country where not just one person decides the fate of the case but a collection of your own peers that come from different places, have never met, and have different thoughts and opinions.
Panter, Panter, & Sampedro Believes In The Jury System
At Panter Panter, & Sampedro we believe in and respect the Jury system. We encourage everyone to take the responsibility of being a juror seriously, earnestly, and with an open mind. In posts such as this, we hope to inform our South Florida community and inspire all residents to participate in this integral part of our judicial system.
Panter, Panter, & Sampedro is a leading personal injury law firm dedicated to protecting Florida’s families. For over 30 years, our experienced trial attorneys have worked one-on-one with clients to successfully get the justice, recovery, and compensation they deserve. For more information, visit panterlaw.com.
Sources:
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/bill-of-rights-day.html
https://www.mow.uscourts.gov/jury/history_of_jury_duty
