New report reveals vulnerabilities and offers strategic solutions to preserve the jury system
March 26, 2025 -- Declining juror participation and a sharp decrease in trial frequency are among the challenges courts must
overcome to preserve the future of jury trials.
A new report, Preserving the Future of Juries and Jury Trials, offers strategies to combat these critical challenges that threaten the existence and legitimacy of our jury system while also suggesting strategic solutions to preserve its future.
“We need to take action, or we risk losing a living component of justice,” warns Paula Hannaford-Agor, director of NCSC’s Center for Jury Studies. “This report is a starting point for continued conversations about where we need to go to strengthen jury trials.”
Key vulnerabilities
The report identifies four key vulnerabilities and outlines a plan to preserve and improve the jury system:
- Foster Public Education and Engagement About the Jury System
- Focus on the Juror-Centered Experience
- Increase Capacity and Incentives for Jury Trials
- Identify and Address Disparities Between Values and Practices
Hannaford-Agor emphasizes that reforms—such as increased juror compensation, shorter terms of service, improved public education efforts, and trial advocacy training for lawyers—will require sustained commitments from justice system stakeholders to invest in resources and work towards changing behaviors and attitudes.
Join the conversation
The Center for Jury Studies is hosting a five-part webinar series to explore these pressing issues and potential reforms. The series launched on March 20 with the inaugural webinar, Jury Duty Matters: Why Public Education Is Key to Community Engagement. Over 800 attendees joined legal experts, court officials, and design specialists who offered practical strategies for boosting public engagement and jury participation.
The second webinar, The Jury-Centric Experience in Jury Selection, will explore how to implement real world solutions to improve juror experience, including reducing common barriers to service, optimizing juror time, and supporting juror mental well-being. The session will be held on April 9 at 3 p.m. ET.
Webinars discussing other key vulnerabilities for juries are scheduled through June. Visit the Center for Jury Studies website for further details and registration.