To the editor:

The Michigan Supreme Court has designated July as “Juror Appreciation Month” to honor and recognize the citizens who have given of themselves and their time and report for jury duty. And important it is: The right to trial by jury is one of the bedrock principles of our constitutional republic. The founders of our country recognized that the jury is essential — as a check to government power and as the embodiment of the community’s conscience.
Citizens give of their time and energy to serve on juries, often at the cost of their own convenience. Please know how much the litigants, lawyers and citizens at large appreciate your sacrifice and your service.
The judges and staff of the Berrien County Trial Court extend our sincere gratitude and say “thank you” to those who answer the call to jury duty. Through your service, you have ensured that the right to trial by a jury is guaranteed for all in our community.

Thomas E. Nelson
Chief Judge Berrien County Trial Court