From Spotlight PA Berks Bureau
Spotlight PA Berks Bureau will host a community forum entitled “Improving Jury Selection” on Thursday, Sept. 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., via Zoom.
Register at eventbrite.com/e/community-forum-improving-jury-participation-tickets-1997483873035?aff=oddtdtcreator. The actual meeting link to the community forum will be sent to registrants several days in advance.
Why this conversation matters
Berks County is, in many ways, a melting pot, with 31.3% of its population racially and ethnically diverse. 96.4% of its residents are U.S. citizens, and slightly over half of the population are females.
In 2024, 22,135 residents qualified for jury duty, with 919 being selected to serve. The overwhelming majority of those who qualified and those who were selected were white males — in fact, well over 90%.
Yet the data shows that having a diverse jury is one of the fairest and most effective ways to secure not only a just verdict, but also to reflect the community. Berks County is not alone with this challenge.
Join us for a conversation with local attorneys and Berks County judges:
- Gabriela Raful, Esq., and former President of the Berks County Bar Association
- Daniel Nevins, Esq., and former President of the Berks County Bar Association
- Hon. Justin Bodor, Berks County Court of Common Pleas
- Hon. Jeffrey Schmehl, U.S. District Court, Eastern Pennsylvania
- Hon. Juan Sanchez, U.S. District Court, Eastern Pennsylvania
- Jay Kurtz, Judicial Law Clerk, Berks County Court of Common Pleas
Join this important conversation
How can we improve participation in jury service? What barriers are keeping eligible citizens from serving? What can lawyers, judges, and the community do to build juries that better reflect and serve Berks County?
