The Eastern District of Pennsylvania (EDPA) Jury Diversity Initiative

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The Eastern District of Pennsylvania (EDPA) Jury Diversity Initiative

Program Originally Presented Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Every person deserves a fair trial, which means as communities grow and continue to become more diverse, it is imperative that courts take steps to ensure their jury pools are reflective of the communities they serve. Often, financial, logistical, and systemic barriers prevent many people, especially those from underrepresented communities, from serving on juries. A failure to address and remedy the longstanding problem of the lack of diversity in jury pools imperils the legitimacy of a fair and equal judicial system.

This CLE program will explore the Voices for Justice initiative, spearheaded by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in partnership with the Committee of Seventy, Ceiba, and Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts, which aims to strengthen civic engagement and ensure fair representation in the jury system. Panelists will explain the initiative’s origins and the driving forces that led to its creation. The presentation will provide an overview of the actions taken to advance this mission – such as community outreach to educate citizens on why jury duty is essential for justice, the development of solutions to the barriers keeping people from serving on juries, and creation of awareness campaigns with content to encourage legal and public engagement to ensure diverse jury representation across state instilling confidence in the judicial system.

Jury representation reflecting a diverse range of perspectives is critical to upholding the rule of law. Attend this program to learn how you can engage with the Voices for Justice initiative and ensure fairness and legitimacy in the justice system.

Panelists:
Hon. Juan R. Sánchez
U.S. District Judge
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Hon. Jeffrey L. Schmehl  
U.S. District Judge
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Paul Lombardi  
Jury Supervisor
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

Deborah Gross, Esq.  
President & CEO, Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts (PMC)

Stephanie Rio
Director of Advancement
Committee of Seventy (C70)

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