LA Daily Journal Interviews Mark P. Robinson, Jr. on Preserving Civil Jury Trials

February 18, 2014 – After being sworn in as the 2014 national president of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), Robinson Calcagnie, Inc. managing partner Mark P. Robinson, Jr. spoke with the Los Angeles Daily Journal about his mission to preserve a civil jury trial system that is slowly eroding due to lack of funding and lengthy trials.

Preservation of the civil justice system and the civil jury trial begins with court funding, but the current level of funding by the Legislature reduces access to justice in the state, which according to Robinson, “has to change.”

As one of ABOTA’s strongest advocates, and the son of ABOTA founder Mark P. Robinson, Sr., Robinson intends to also “focus ABOTA’s attention on ways to shorten and streamline jury trials.”

“Leaner, meaner trials will be more appealing to lawyers, judges, court staff and jurors,” he said.

A major drug product liability case tried in two weeks rather than two months? According to Robinson, it’s possible.

About ABOTA

ABOTA is a national advocacy association committed to preserving and promoting the American public’s Seventh Amendment right to trial by jury. The organization was launched in 1957 by Mark Robinson, Sr., after signs of the civil jury system’s deterioration proliferated. Today, ABOTA has more than 6,300 members with chapters in all 50 states, including Washington D.C.

The organization consists of experienced attorneys, judges and other supporters who are committed to several judicial missions including: upholding the ethical standards of our legal system; encouraging the adoption of a more expedited trial system; educating the public about our right to trial by jury; and responding to misinformation about our judicial system.