National jury studies expert Paula Hannaford-Agor honored with jury innovation award

Williamsburg, Va. (Dec. 9) – Paula Hannaford-Agor, former director of the Center for Jury Studies, has been honored with the 2025 G. Thomas Munsterman Award for Jury Innovation for her longstanding commitment to helping courts improve how they manage and support juries.

Presented by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC) and named for founder and former Center for Jury Studies director, G. Thomas Munsterman, the award recognizes states, local courts, organizations, and individuals who have made significant improvements or innovations in jury procedures, operations, and practices.

Hannaford-Agor was honored with the award Nov. 24 at NCSC's Williamsburg office. She received multiple nominations from across the judicial community this year. 

"Paula has been one of the dominant voices in contemporary jury studies," said NCSC President Elizabeth Clement. "She's a consultant, a teacher, a researcher, a mentor, and someone who courts — from local administrators to state supreme courts — turn to when they face real, difficult problems."

Hannaford-Agor, who retired in May, received nominations and letters of support from judges, scholars, and jury administrators. Her career with NCSC began in 1993, working closely with Munsterman. 

Over the years, Hannaford-Agor became widely recognized for her practical, research-based contributions to jury management. 

Her work has corrected misconceptions about juries and shaped modern understanding of juror comprehension, decision-making, and courtroom communication, producing model practices courts rely on. Hannaford-Agor's research on jury pool representativeness, juror pay, and logistical barriers to service has led to significant policy reforms.

Other notable accomplishments include her evaluation and promotion of jury innovations, such as limited in-trial juror discussions and the impacts of eliminating peremptory challenges, and guidance to courts through the COVID-19 pandemic to sustain operations using technology.

"This year's Munsterman Award acknowledges both Paula's extraordinary body of work and her continued influence on how courts serve their communities through jury service," said Center for Jury Studies Director Jawwaad Johnson.