Past Events

May 7, 2015
Address: “Restoring the Promise of Hernandez v. Texas
Hispanic Bar Association of Houston President’s Day Judicial Luncheon
Houston, Texas

May 29, 2015
Panel: “Challenges Facing the American Jury”
Law and Society Association
Seattle, Washington

July 9, 2015
Truth Finding and Victim Compensation
Susman Conversation on the Constitution and the Courts
Aspen Institute
Washington, DC

September 11, 2015
The Future of the Civil Jury
NYU School of Law
New York, New York

September 17, 2015
The Decline of Trials in a Legalizing Society
Valparaiso University Law School
Valparaiso, Indiana

October 15, 2015
The “War” on the Civil Justice System
Symposium Papers
Pound Civil Justice Institute
Emory Law
Atlanta, Georgia

November 5, 2015
Trial by Jury
PLI New York Center
New York, New York

January 14, 2016
Speech: “Lessons Learned about Jury Trials”
Amarillo Area Bar Association
Amarillo, Texas

February 8, 2016
Will Juries Go the Way of Powdered Wigs?
The Seventh Amendment in the Modern World
A Conversation with U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor
NYU School of Law
New York, New York

February 25-26, 2016
IAALS’ Fourth Civil Justice Reform Summit *
Denver, Colorado

* Indicates participation from a Civil Jury Project member in an event hosted by another organization.

May 5, 2016
Juror Appreciation Lunch
Houston, Texas
The first Juror Appreciation Lunch in the nation co-sponsored with the Houston Bar Association, Houston Young Lawyers Foundation, and the American Board of Trial Advocates  
This lunch was hosted by a group of law firms that consider themselves actively involved in civil litigation. That group, in formation, included Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos (AZA); Arnold Itkin; Baker & Botts; Beck Redden; The Buzbee Law Firm; Gibbs & Bruns; The Lanier Law Firm; Norton Rose Fulbright US; Reynolds Frizzell; Susman Godfrey, Vinson & Elkins and Williams Kherkher Hart Boundas. The State and Federal judges are extending an invitation to the jurors who serve in civil cases over the next month. The purpose of the lunch was to honor the jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials. The judges and jurors attended as our guests, practicing lawyers paid for their own lunches. We offered a program, had the jurors at each table and offered CLE credit. We intend to replicate it in other cities around the country.

May 19-21, 2016
Address: “Disappearing Civil Trials
35th Annual ASTC Conference
Redondo Beach, California

September 30, 2016
Trial By Jury of Patent Cases
NYU School of Law
New York, New York

October 6, 2016
Jury Improvement Lunch
Houston, Texas
The Civil Jury Project, in conjunction with the Houston Bar Association, the Houston Young Lawyers Foundation and the Houston Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, sponsored the Jury Improvement Lunch at noon on Thursday, October 6th, at the Magnolia Hotel in downtown Houston. The State and Federal judges extended an invitation to the jurors who served in civil cases. The purpose of the lunch was to honor the jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials. The lawyers who attended received credit for their continuing legal education requirements.

October 27, 2016
Jury Improvement Lunch
Dallas, Texas
The Dallas Bar Association, DBA Labor & Employment Law Section, DBA Business Litigation Section, DBA Trial Skills Section, DBA Tort & Insurance Practices Section, Dallas Trial Lawyers Association, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Dallas Young Lawyers Foundation, American Board of Trial Advocates and Civil Jury Project sponsored the Jury Improvement Lunch in Dallas, on Thursday, October 27th, at noon at the Belo Mansion. This was hosted by a group of law firms that consider themselves actively involved in civil litigation. The State and Federal judges extended an invitation to the jurors who served in civil cases over the past month. The purpose of the lunch was to honor the jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

November 2, 2016
Forum with Suja Thomas
New York, New York
The Civil Jury Project sponsored a forum for Professor Suja Thomas of the University of Illinois School of Law to discuss her book “The Missing American Jury.” The book emphasizes the constitutional role of civil, criminal, and grand juries. It argues that the jury should be recognized as a co-equal of the traditional actors and specifically as a significant check to balance their powers—essentially as a “branch.” It then explores the reasons for the decline of jury trials in the United States and the effects this decline has on our society and democracy. The panel included Suja Thomas and Burt Neuborne and was moderated by Steve Susman.

December 9, 2016
Texas Trial Lawyers Annual Meeting
Susman speaking on How to Save Jury Trials
Dallas, Texas

February 1-3, 2017
Kansas Legal Revitalization Conference
Susman on Vanishing Jury Trials- Why? Do we care? What to do?
Kansas City, Kansas

February 9, 2017
Jury Improvement Lunch
Houston, Texas
The Civil Jury Project, in conjunction with the Houston Bar Association, the Houston Young Lawyers Foundation and the Houston Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, sponsored the Jury Improvement Lunch at noon on Thursday, February 9th, at the Magnolia Hotel in downtown Houston. The State and Federal judges extended an invitation to the jurors who served in civil cases. The purpose of the lunch was to honor the jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials. The lawyers who attended received credit for their continuing legal education requirements.

February 9, 2017
Texas Business Litigation Annual Seminar
Susman and Jolly on Jury Innovations
Houston, Texas

March 30, 2017
Susman on “Are Jury Trials Vanishing?  Do we care?  What can we do?”
University of Texas Law School
Austin, Texas

April 4, 2017
Susman on the Preservation of Trials and Trial Judges
Civil Trial Innovations Conference
Kansas City, MO

April 7, 2017
Jury Improvement Lunch
Corpus Christi, TX
The Civil Jury Project, in conjunction with the Corpus Christi Bar Association, the Corpus Christi Young Lawyers Association, and the Corpus Christi Chapter of ABOTA, sponsored the Jury Improvement Lunch at noon on Friday, April 7th at the Solomon Ortiz International Center.  The purpose of the lunch was to honor the jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials. The lawyers who attended received credit for their continuing legal education requirements.

April 17, 2017
Dr. Bull and the Jury’s Role
New York, NY
The Civil Jury Project at NYU hosted a Bull related event on April 17 at 5:00pm in the law school’s Greenberg Lounge. The event featured a three person panel (a practitioner, a trial consultant, and an academic) drawing on clips from the show to discuss issues related to juries, lawyers, and the administration of justice.

May 3, 2017
Jury Improvement Lunch
Houston, TX
The Civil Jury Project, in conjunction with the Houston Bar Association, the Houston Young Lawyers Foundation and the Houston Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, sponsored the Jury Improvement Lunch at noon on Wednesday, May 3rd, at the Magnolia Hotel in downtown Houston.  The purpose of the lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials. The lawyers who attended will received credit for their continuing legal education requirements.

May 4, 2017
Jury Improvement Lunch
Dallas, TX
The Dallas Bar Association, DBA Labor & Employment Law Section, DBA Business Litigation Section, DBA Trial Skills Section, DBA Tort & Insurance Practices Section, Dallas Trial Lawyers Association, Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Dallas Young Lawyers Foundation, American Board of Trial Advocates and Civil Jury Project sponsored the Jury Improvement Lunch in Dallas, on Thursday, May 4th, at noon at the Belo Mansion. This was hosted by a group of law firms that consider themselves actively involved in civil litigation.  The purpose of the lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

June 8-10, 2017
American Society of Trial Consultants 36th Annual Conference
Rosemont, IL
The ASTC’s 36th Annual Conference was held at the Westin O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois. This conference, which was sponsored by Precision Research and FAI Trial Consultation and Insight, included workshops in trial consulting. Please see this page for details: ASTC Conference

June 9, 2017
ACS National Convention
Washington, D.C.
Steve Susman debated Renee Lerner on the future of the jury trial: “Resolved: The Resolution of Civil Disputes by Jury Trial is Obsolete.”

August 11, 2017
ABA CLE in the City: Trial Practice Track
New York, NY
Steve Susman and Shari Diamond were panelists on How Juries Think and Behave

August 19, 2017
Speech: “Innovative Jury Trials”
American College of Trial Lawyers
Wichita, KS
Steve Susman and Judge Thomas Marten presented on Innovative Jury Trials

September 15, 2017
Jury Innovations Workshop
New York, NY
State and federal judges gathered to discuss trial innovations

Oct 12, 2017
Jury Improvement Lunch
Seattle, Washington
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

Oct 24, 2017
E.D.Pa. Judicial Annual Retreat
Susman addressed judges on the CJP

Oct 25, 2017
Jury Improvement Lunch
Boston, Massachusetts
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

Nov 1, 2017
Jury Improvement Lunch
Kansas City, Missouri
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

Nov 2, 2017
Jury Improvement Lunch
Denver, Colorado
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

December 15, 2017
ISBA Fed. Practice Seminar
Susman on Trial Innovations
Des Moines, IA

March 29, 2018
Jury Innovations Workshop
New York, NY
State judges gathered to discuss trial innovations

March 30, 2018
Jury Innovations Workshop
New York, NY
Federal judges gathered to discuss trial innovations

April 16, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
Baltimore, Maryland
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

April 19, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
Cleveland, Ohio
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

April 20, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
Columbus, Ohio
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

May 1, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
Dallas, TX
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

May 2, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
Houston, TX
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

May 11, 2018
Eighth Judicial District Conference
The Death of the Civil Jury Trial
PowerPoint, Speech
Cleveland, OH

June 22, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
Seattle, WA
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

August 25, 2018
Tenth Circuit Presentation
The Death of the Civil Jury Trial
Colorado Springs, CO

September 5, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
Las Vegas, NV
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

September 6, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
Oklahoma City, OK
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

September 7, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
Miami, FL
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

September 14, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
Fort Hall, ID
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

October 3, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
Los Angeles, CA
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

October 4, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
Tucson, AZ
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

October 17, 2018
Jury Innovations Workshop
New York, NY
State judges gathered to discuss trial innovations

October 19, 2018
Jury Innovations Workshop
New York, NY
Federal judges gathered to discuss trial innovations

October 23, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
New York, NY
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

October 26, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
Boise, ID
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

November 1, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
Fort Lauderdale, FL
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

November 9, 2018
National Board of Trial Advocates
New Orleans, LA
“Innovating in Jury Trials”

December 7, 2018
Jury Improvement Lunch
West Palm Beach, FL
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

February 7, 2019
DRI- Products Conference, Austin, TX
Steve Susman presented his speech “Airing Out Jury Trials”

March 1, 2019
Jury Improvement Lunch
Oakland, CA
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

March 12, 2019
Jury Improvement Lunch
Des Moines, IA
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

March 14, 2019
Jury Improvement Lunch
Chicago, IL
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

April 4, 2019
Jury Improvement Lunch
Salt Lake City, UT
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

April 16, 2019
Inns of Court Program
Cleveland, OH

May 16, 2019
Jury Innovations Program
New York, NY

May 16, 2019
Dallas Jury Improvement Lunch
Dallas, TX
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

June 6, 2019
Toledo Jury Improvement Lunch
Toledo, OH
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

August 6, 2019
Annual Conference of Florida Circuit Court Judges
Naples, FL
Steve Susman presented his speech “How to Save Civil Jury Trials”

September 12, 2019
Denver Jury Improvement Lunch
Denver, CO
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

October 10, 2019
Houston Jury Improvement Lunch
Houston, TX
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

November 6, 2019
El Paso Jury Improvement Lunch
El Paso, TX
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

December 10, 2019
Wichita Jury Improvement Lunch
Wichita, KS
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

February 19, 2020
Kansas City Jury Improvement Lunch
Kansas City, MO
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

March 6, 2020
San Antonio Jury Improvement Lunch
San Antonio, TX
The purpose of this lunch was to honor jurors and to learn from them about what can be done to improve civil trials.

March 31, 2023
South Carolina Bar
May 19, 2023
7th Circuit Bar Association Foundation
A Symposium on the American Jury:
Realizing the Promise of America’s Authoring Right