Ohio Jury Management Association receives 2016 G. Thomas Munsterman Award

Ohio Jury Management Association receives 2016 G. Thomas Munsterman Award

Organization being honored for comprehensive jury service program

Williamsburg, Va. (September 21, 2016) – The Ohio Jury Management Association (OJMA) has been selected as the recipient of the National Center for State Courts’ (NCSC) 2016 G. Thomas Munsterman Award for Jury Innovation. The Munsterman Award recognizes states, local courts, organizations or individuals that have made significant improvements or innovations in jury procedures, operations and practices.

OJMA was established in 2000 as an outcome from an Ohio State Bar Foundation sponsored conference, to support the understanding and implementation of effective jury management practices in Ohio trial courts.  The overall mission of the organization is to promote and enhance jury service through excellent jury management. To fulfill its mission, OJMA has conducted an annual conference for 17 consecutive years; created and updated a Jury Management Manual; produced a jury orientation video; developed a Jury Notes newsletter; conducted a statewide survey of jury practices; created and maintains www.ohiojury.org; and produced a podcast.

"OJMA is a truly unique organization that brings together trial judges, court managers, jury managers, and courtroom staff,” says Paula Hannaford-Agor, Director of NCSC’s Center for Jury Studies. “The organization’s education and advocacy efforts provide its members and other Ohio justice system stakeholders a much more holistic view of how jury system management and courtroom procedures affect jurors and jury trials than ordinarily happens when those different groups meet independently.  It’s a very effective model that I wish more states would embrace."

The organization collaborates with the Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College to provide educational information on new or updated statues and rules, course sessions focused on jury management and technology, presentations on in-court improvements and information about other jury-related improvements or innovations.

M. Christy Tull, the director of the Supreme Court of Ohio Judicial College, supported the nomination of OJMA because it "improves jury management in Ohio and enhances public trust and confidence in the trial Courts."

OJMA currently has 119 members consisting of judges, court administrators, clerks, jury commissioners, jury managers, bailiffs, attorneys and others interested in jury management.

The National Center for State Courts, headquartered in Williamsburg, Va., is a nonprofit court reform organization dedicated to improving the administration of justice by providing leadership and service to the state courts. Founded in 1971 by the Conference of Chief Justices and Chief Justice of the United States Warren E. Burger, NCSC provides education, training, technology, management, and research services to the nation’s state courts.