Jury

Virginia Jury Awards $750,000 in Landmark Racial Discrimination Case Against Local Landlord

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PENHOOK, Va. — In what is being hailed as a landmark decision, the Virginia Office of Civil Rights, led by Attorney General Jason Miyares, secured a $750,000 jury verdict on Thursday against a local landlord accused of racial discrimination. The case, emerging from Franklin County, sends a strong message against biases in housing practices. The lawsuit centered around Regina Turner, the owner of Lazy Cove Campground at Smith Mountain Lake, who was found to have engaged in discriminatory practices against two families based on race. Turner had a long-standing practice of renting lots to families … Read more

Cleveland County Residents Targeted by Convincing Jury Duty Scam Using Real Officers’ Names

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Cleveland County, N.C. – Residents of Cleveland County are on high alert following reports of a sophisticated jury duty scam circulating in the area. According to local authorities, the scam involves impostors who convincingly impersonate law enforcement officials to dupe victims. The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department has been fielding complaints from individuals who received phone calls from fraudsters. These callers cleverly misuse the names of genuine officers to lend credibility to their deceitful schemes. One reported victim recounted how the scammers asserted there were active arrest warrants issued against him due to his failure to … Read more

Jury Awards $5.7 Million to Man Wrongfully Imprisoned for 1985 Murder in New Milford

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NEW MILFORD, Conn. — A federal court has ordered a significant monetary award to a man who spent decades behind bars for a murder he did not commit. On Wednesday, Ralph “Ricky” Birch, who was wrongfully convicted in 1989, was awarded $5.7 million by a jury for the injustice he suffered. The U.S. District Court ruled in favor of Birch, marking a significant turn in a legal battle against the town of New Milford, which began when he filed his lawsuit in 2020. Birch, alongside co-defendant Shawn Henning, had been convicted in the 1985 murder … Read more

Transforming Jury Duty into an Enjoyable Experience: Innovative Approaches to Civic Responsibility

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Jury duty is often seen as a civic obligation rather than an enjoyable experience. However, across the United States, efforts are being made to make this essential public service more engaging and less daunting for citizens. From installing free Wi-Fi in jury rooms to providing more comfortable seating arrangements, courthouses are stepping up to enhance the jury service experience. Statistics suggest that millions of Americans are called to serve on juries each year. Despite the fundamental role this service plays in the judicial system, the rate of no-shows is significant. Courts have faced challenges in … Read more