New Campaign “Your Verdict Counts” Launches to Educate Richmond Jurors on Their Constitutional Rights


Nonpartisan initiative from the Cato Institute aims to inform citizens of their power and independence as jurors


RICHMOND, Va. — AUGUST 31, 2026 — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today, the Cato Institute launched Your Verdict Counts, a nonpartisan civic education campaign designed to inform Richmond-area residents of the rights and responsibilities they hold when called to serve on a jury.

The campaign is focused on educating prospective jurors on the rights that jurors are rarely told about before they enter the courtroom. This includes the ability to vote according to their conscience, protections against being punished for a verdict, and the fact that “reasonable doubt” has no fixed legal definition and is left to each juror’s own judgment.

“Half of the Bill of Rights concerns jury trials. Trial by jury is guaranteed twice in the Constitution. It was never meant to be a mere formality: it’s supposed to be where the conscience of the community decides who is deprived of life, liberty, or property,” said Matthew Cavedon, the director of the Cato Institute’s Project on Criminal Justice. “Your Verdict Counts is an important step toward restoring government by the people as the Founders intended.”

As part of the campaign, the Cato Institute has launched yourver​dict​counts​.org, which walks prospective jurors through the stages of jury service and includes an informative video that details firsthand accounts from Virginians who have served on juries, along with a printable wallet card summarizing key rights.

Additionally, the Cato Institute will host multiple in-person events in the Richmond area to educate prospective jurors on their rights and role as jurors and to have questions answered by legal experts.

About the Cato Institute:

The Cato Institute is a public policy research organization dedicated to the principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Founded in 1977, Cato works to create a free and open society in which liberty allows every individual to pursue a life of prosperity and meaning in peace.

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