CLEARFIELD – The United States Postal Service presented the Clearfield County Courthouse with a gallery print depicting the Jury Duty special issue stamp Wednesday morning.
The stamp was issued Sept. 12 in honor of the right and responsibility of jury service.
“It’s one of those responsibilities we have as Americans,” said Clearfield County Commissioner Mike Lytle, adding that the responsibility should be recognized along with rights such as the ability to vote, freedom of religion and freedom of speech.
“Along with those rights, there is a responsibility to serve.”
“Few things reach the American public like U.S. Mail,” said Christine Stom, postmaster at the Clearfield post office.
A special session of court was held in recognition of the gift Wednesday.
Clearfield County President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman said Clearfield County citizens recognize the responsibility of jury duty.
“The citizens in this county, they do what they need to do,” he said.
Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. said, “Our system simply wouldn’t work if people weren’t willing to come in and take time out of their lives,” noting the role of a jury in criminal cases.
Ammerman pointed to an eight-day civil trial happening this week that required a large time commitment from jurors.
“It’s so important to serve on jury duty,” said Linda K. Hatcher, Republican jury commissioner for Clearfield County.
Democratic Jury Commissioner for Clearfield County Ellen Harry echoed those words, adding that other countries are not as privileged to have trials by jury.
Ammerman said the print will most likely hang in the jury room for courtroom No. 1.