Sixth Hon. Mark R. Kravitz Symposium
Join us for a dynamic three-part presentation which examines the decline of jury trials in today’s civil legal system. The symposium aims to foster a nuanced dialogue between practitioners and scholars about the causes and consequences of the vanishing trial, and potential paths forward. The first panel will explore how the aspiration for more efficient trials and the practical limitations of court resources, caseloads, and funding, coupled with the development of ADR methods and alternatives, resulted in a significant decline in jury trials as Judge Kravitz warned would happen 20 years ago. The second panel will present divergent views on the value and relevance of jury trials—again drawing from themes in Judge Kravitz’s influential article. The third panel will focus on procedural and practical reforms to make jury trials more efficient, accessible, and likely.
