Projects and Reports
ASTC is proud to support the following projects and research aimed to improve our justice system.
Public trust in American institutions has been declining for decades. The purpose of this white paper is to briefly review trends in trust reduction related to the justice system institutions—law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and Congress—and to present new survey research on Americans’ views on the justice system, the significant drop in the public’s confidence in the system, and potential reforms that might restore that trust and confidence in these important institutions.
After conducting a national survey showing widespread distrust in different aspects of the justice system, the Trust in Justice Project facilitated focus groups and interviews to delve deeper into the public’s experiences, expectations, and emotions behind these beliefs. This report outlines the feedback from our focus group participants, our analysis of the systemic and cultural causes of these issues, and suggested improvements to the justice system, both from our participants and our additional research.
Trust in Justice Project
Trust in Justice Project
Linda Janda v. Michael A. Zulian, D.D.S.
Other Resources
Hardy, Alexis
Salerno, et al. (2021)
The impact of minimal versus extended voir dire and judicial rehabilitation on mock jurors' decisions in civil cases. Law and Human Behavior, 45(4), 336-355.
Other Resources
The ASTC Peremptory Challenges Task Force is engaged in research and dialogue with courts across the country to address discriminatory practices that decrease the representativeness and diversity of juries, but opposes eliminating peremptory challenges as a solution. The Task Force’s position paper outlines the history and issues with peremptory challenges, and proposes more effective jury selection practices that will improve the jury selection process, expand outreach to the venire, increase juror participation, improve juror experience, and ensure the appropriate use of challenges for cause and peremptory challenges.
ASTC Position Paper on the Elimination of Peremptory Challenges
ASTC Position Paper on the Elimination of Peremptory Challenge
At the behest of the late Steve Susman, ASTC formed a team to collaborate with academics and legal professionals on a significant, multi-year initiative, The Civil Jury Project at NYU School of Law, aimed at examining the evolving role and diminishing frequency of jury trials in the civil justice system. This project, through a survey conducted by ASTC members, seeks to understand attorneys' experiences and perceptions regarding the decline of jury trials, exploring potential innovations and solutions to revitalize this foundational aspect of the legal process. ASTC would like to recognize the following who participated in the project: Charlotte Morris (project leader), Tara Trask, David Barnard, Jeffrey Frederick, Pete Rowland, Susan Macpherson, with special thanks to Steve Susman and Richard Jolly.