PRINTER'S NO. 3355
No. 437 Session of 2002
INTRODUCED BY E. Z. TAYLOR, HENNESSEY, WATSON, LEDERER, HARHAI, ARMSTRONG, DONATUCCI, DeWEESE, READSHAW, WOJNAROSKI, HERSHEY, STABACK, TRICH, BEBKO-JONES, LESCOVITZ, ROHRER, BELARDI, SAYLOR, JOSEPHS, BENNINGHOFF, DALEY, ARGALL, SANTONI, LEH, ZIMMERMAN, HERMAN, GRUCELA, McILHATTAN, SHANER, M. BAKER, KELLER, PERZEL, FAIRCHILD, GABIG, CORRIGAN, CLYMER, HARHART, HORSEY, COSTA, CREIGHTON, CLARK, S. MILLER, GEORGE, GEIST, McGILL, RUBLEY, TRAVAGLIO, THOMAS, WASHINGTON, BARRAR, FLICK, MANDERINO, CAPPELLI, SCHRODER, HASAY, MARSICO, SATHER, McNAUGHTON, PISTELLA, B. SMITH, PIPPY, TIGUE, BROWNE, FORCIER, J. EVANS, ROSS, DeLUCA, HESS, L. I. COHEN AND MELIO, MARCH 7, 2002
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MARCH 7, 2002
A RESOLUTION 1 Designating the week of May 5 through 11, 2002, as "Juror 2 Appreciation Week" in Pennsylvania. 3 WHEREAS, For more than 200 years, Americans have benefited 4 from the protection offered by the right to trial by jury 5 guaranteed by the Bill of Rights in the Constitution of the 6 United States; and 7 WHEREAS, Since the Bill of Rights was ratified in December 8 1791, the jury has acted as an unbiased finder of truth and the 9 most elemental representative body of all citizens and thus has 10 played a pivotal role in balancing the scales of justice, 11 equalizing the rights of the poor and powerless with the 12 privileges of the rich and powerful, nullifying unjust laws,
1 securing other allowed rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights 2 and, most importantly, extending and preserving democracy; and 3 WHEREAS, Every year over 74,000 Pennsylvanians serve as 4 jurors in both civil and criminal trials; and 5 WHEREAS, Only when citizens support the jury system and 6 appear when summoned can this pillar of our democracy fully 7 protect the rights of all citizens; therefore be it 8 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the 9 week of May 5 through 11, 2002, as "Juror Appreciation Week" in 10 Pennsylvania. B12L82JS/20020H0437R3355 - 2 -