Richard Lorren Jolly
Professor of Law, Southwestern Law School
The Democratic Virtues of the Civil Jury
Thursday, April 16, 2026
12:00 - 1:15 p.m.
In-Person and Online
DePaul University Conference Center
1 E. Jackson Boulevard, Room 8005
Chicago, Illinois
DePaul College of Law is an accredited Illinois MCLE provider. This presentation is worth 1.25 hours of general CLE credit.
Commentator: Shari Seidman Diamond
Howard J. Trienens Professor of Law and Professor of Psychology
Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law
The United States is in a period of democratic decline, marked by waning commitment to self-governance and declining trust in public institutions. In this moment, the civil jury offers an often-overlooked avenue for democratic renewal. By welcoming laypeople into the courthouse and deputizing them as constitutional actors, civil juries express faith in representative governance and can generate sociopolitical and administrative benefits that extend well beyond dispute resolution.
Professor Richard Lorren Jolly will present his ongoing project examining the jury as a site of democratic participation at a time when other institutions are faltering. In an age of polarization and declining trust, the jury remains one of the few places where ordinary citizens are brought together across lines of politics, race, class and religion to deliberate face-to-face and effectuate outcomes. As Tocqueville observed, “[juries] make all men feel that they have duties toward society and that they take a share in its government.” That insight is, if anything, more urgent today: the jury teaches democratic habits of listening, persuasion and compromise at a time when such habits are eroding.
His talk will consider what it would mean to take the civil jury seriously as a democratic institution, and what reforms might be necessary to preserve and strengthen lay participation in civil adjudication for the future.
The Clifford Scholar-in-Residence Program
The Clifford Scholar-in-Residence Program annually recognizes a talented rising star in the field of civil justice and complements the annual Clifford Symposium on Tort Law & Social Policy , which for over 30 years, has brought together civil justice scholars to exchange ideas and publish their work. The program not only builds upon this tradition but also provides a unique platform for emerging scholars to contribute fresh insights to the field.
The Clifford Scholar-in-Residence Program advances Robert A. Clifford's (JD '76) vision by fostering dialogue of civil justice issues that impact all Americans. A cornerstone of the Program is a presentation to the entire legal community by a rising civil justice scholar, as well as a response from a senior commentator.
Registration
Registration must be completed no later than April 15, 2026.
There is a room cap of 100 in-person attendees, and online participants will receive a link to view the presentation just ahead of the event.
Masks are optional, and no proof of vaccination is required. Attendees may be asked to present an ID while on campus. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.