Published: May 26, 2009 03:44 pm      

In Your View — 05/27/09

Obama is trying to save the planet

Thank you, Mr. President, for attempting to slow the human race’s determined charge to drive themselves and every other species on the planet to extinction!

On behalf of the planet and the future generations that will be forced to grow up on it, Mahalo for trying to save us from ourselves. Although I am concerned that it will be too little, too late, at least it’s refreshing to see that some people care about the future, instead of going like hogs to the trough and slurping up everything they can get for themselves with utter disregard for the welfare of others.

We can change policies and restrict the “takers” from doing as much damage, but the way is to change minds as well as policies. Good luck with that!

I don't think most people give anything much thought! The key is reaching future generations, so they can start to undo all the damages done by their predecessors, many of whom either don’t believe (or don’t care) that we have dire environmental problems.

Thanks for trying, President Obama.

Barbara Abels, Gallipolis, Ohio



Jury duty should be encouraged

Americans have the power to exercise one of our nation’s paramount democratic responsibilities. They can serve on a jury.

Each year, millions of Americans receive the call to serve — and they do. According to the National Center for State Courts, about a million people serve on some 80,000 jury trials per year in the United States.

The ABA wants to make it as easy as possible for more Americans to serve their country in this way. To that end, the ABA’s Commission on the American Jury Project developed dozens of guiding principles for juries and jury trials. The Commission is encouraging courts across the country to adopt new jury practices and standards.

To make it easier for Americans to serve as jurors, we advocate for the shortest possible jury service as long as the needs of the courts are being met; for the preservation of juror privacy through juror-screening inquiries that are relevant only to the trial and by allowing jurors to answer sensitive questions privately; and for the protection of employees, by prohibiting employers from penalizing those who miss work because of jury service.

We want to help jurors do the best job they can for our nation’s courts. For example, our principles call for specific juror instruction and orientation so that jurors will have an increased understanding of the judicial system. We also recommend that jurors be allowed to take notes during the trial and, in certain cases, be allowed to submit written questions for witnesses.

When a trial is over, we believe courts should give jurors legally permissible post-verdict advice.

We hope that these principles foster a better understanding of, and keener interest in, jury duty as we work on improving jury practice and preserving the right to trial by jury.

H. Thomas Wells Jr., president, American Bar Association