(Annapolis, MD – May 6, 2005) The Maryland Judiciary will launch a statewide program to recognize employers with juror-friendly policies during a ceremony at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11. Employers from across the state will be designated as “Partners in Justice” because they fully compensate employees who are called for jury service.

Twenty employers – along with their employees who have fulfilled their civic duty as jurors – will be honored for their contribution to the judicial system at the “Partners in Justice” ceremony in the Court of Appeals courtroom in the Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building. The ceremony will be presided over by Court of Appeals Chief Judge Robert M. Bell; the Hon. Benson Everett Legg, chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maryland; and Prince George’s Circuit Court Administrative Judge William D. Missouri, chair of the Conference of Circuit Judges.

The event will kick off the employer recognition program, and other employers will have the opportunity to enroll as well. Each of the "Partners in Justice" will be listed on the Honor Roll on the Judiciary's Web site at http://www.courts.state.md.us/juryservice/index.html.

“Many employers of all sizes recognize the importance of jury duty to the community and currently have juror-friendly employment policies that compensate their employees so that they do not suffer a financial hardship if called for jury service,” said Judge Dennis Sweeney, chair of the Maryland Judiciary’s Council on Jury Use and Management. “We want to encourage all Maryland employers to develop similar policies.”

The employers who will be recognized at the ceremony are: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association; Amerix Corporation; Bozzuto & Associates; Centreville National Bank; Ciena Corporation; Citizens National Bank; Gensler Company; Henggeler Computer Consultants; House of Printing; Johns Hopkins University; JohnsonDiversey; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Maryland Science Center; Maryland State Bar Association; Northrop Grumman Corporation; Pleasant Day Medical Adult Day Care; RCM&D, Inc.; TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.; Way Station, Inc.; and Zentech Manufacturing.

“We believe we’re a part of the community,” said Charlene Wright, controller for Zentech Manufacturing. “To make things work well, we have to do our part, and help our employees to do their part.”

“It is the policy of our company to supply time away from work for co-workers who are called to perform jury duty,” said John Trader, operations manager for JohnsonDiversey. “Serving on a jury when called is a civic duty and as such is fully recognized by JohnsonDiversey.”

The “Partners in Justice” ceremony follows Juror Appreciation Week, designated in a proclamation from the Court of Appeals for May 2-6, in keeping with the national theme for Law Day 2005: “The American Jury: We the People in Action.” Started in 1957 by the American Bar Association, Law Day is celebrated each year on May 1.

“One major barrier to jury service is the level of compensation,” said Court of Appeals Chief Judge Robert M. Bell. “Some jurors are provided full pay and benefits by their employers while they serve on jury duty. These employers, big and small, should be recognized and commended. Those who do not should be encouraged to do so.”

Media are invited to attend and cameras are welcome. For more information, please call the Court Information Office at 410/260-1488.