The One Governmental Agency That Has No Ambition

UB, September 19, 2005 Last year, legislation passed to establish a new federal day of remembrance and education about the United States Constitution. Last Monday was the first Constitution Day. The International College sponsored an event on campus to commemorate the occasion by taking the opportunity to educate UB students about the Constitution. The keynote speaker was Honorable Vincent Simko, Esq., a Bridgeport lawyer who has argued before the Supreme Court.
Mr. Simko’s remarks centered on the country’s jury system. He covered the history of juries up to the time that the Constitution was amended in Article 7 to guarantee every US citizen a right to a speedy and impartial trial by a jury of his peers. He described with passion what made our legal system different from the judicial system of other nations, emphasizing the importance of an independent judicial system, and the process of ensuring the impartiality of jurors. He explained how these differences make the US the envy of other nations, whose governments do not guarantee equal protection to its citizens. According to Mr. Simko there are 80,000 jury trials per year and 1 million Americans serve on a jury annually.