OTTAWA—Womble Bond Dickinson Trial Consulting Director Dr. Sandy Donaldson will address Canada's House of Commons on jurors' experiences of stress as a result of jury duty.
Dr. Donaldson currently is serving Vice President of the American Society of Trial Consultants. She and other ASTC professionals have been invited to address the House of Commons' Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights in February.
Jury duty can be stressful for many citizens. For example, serving on a jury may disrupt normal work and family life, or result in the juror losing income. Also, jurors may be confronted with disturbing facts and may fear that they are making an incorrect decision that will negatively impact someone else's life.
The objective of the Canadian government's study is to identify the various sources of stress arising at every stage of jury duty – from the selection of prospective jurors to serving on a jury and taking part in deliberations – in order to propose concrete recommendations and ensure that all jurors have access to necessary support services. The Committee also aims to identify, document and share best practices in the field.
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