2026 Judicature Study Links Jury Service to Higher Court Trust
A 2026 Judicature study finds recent jurors trust courts more than non-jurors.
Why it matters: Why it matters: Public trust in courts is falling as jury trials become rare. These findings highlight the importance of jury service for legal professionals concerned with court legitimacy and justice system engagement.
- A 2026 study in the legal journal Judicature shows jurors from the last five years trust courts and judges more.
- Trust in the U.S. Supreme Court dropped from 68% in 2019 to 41% in 2025, per Courthouse News.
- Federal civil trials fell from 5.5% in 1962 to 0.8% in 2013; state civil jury trials stood at 0.9% in 2019.
- Adults reporting jury service halved from 9% pre-2020 to 4% in 2025, reducing exposure to the justice system.
A 2026 study published in Judicature, a respected legal journal, finds that individuals who have served as jurors within the last five years report significantly higher trust in state courts. They also view judges as more fair, competent, and trustworthy.
This comes amid a notable decline in public confidence in the judiciary. Trust in the U.S. Supreme Court dropped sharply from 68% in 2019 to 41% in early 2025, according to Courthouse News. Over half of Americans now express little or no trust in the Court, posing challenges for legal legitimacy.
Jury trials, where citizens directly participate in fact-finding, are increasingly rare. The proportion of federal civil cases resolved by trial fell from 5.5% in 1962 to just 0.8% in 2013. State civil jury trials were similarly low, at 0.9% in 2019. In criminal cases, plea bargaining—an agreement between defendant and prosecutor to avoid trial—resolves between 95% and 98%, minimizing jury involvement.
The reduced frequency of jury service impacts the public’s firsthand experience with the justice system. Adults reporting recent jury duty declined from 9% before 2020 to only 4% in 2025.
Co-author Matthew Levendusky, a political scientist specializing in public opinion and courts, commented, "Jury service often represents the only direct interaction many Americans have with the justice system. Seeing courts in action helps build trust and legitimacy." He cautioned that declining trust risks weakening governance through legal challenges to the courts.
The study's authors and commentators have called for expanded civic education to inform citizens about the judicial process and compensate for the shrinking jury pool, which could help reinforce public trust.
By the numbers:
- 68% to 41% — Trust in U.S. Supreme Court from 2019 to 2025
- 5.5% to 0.8% — Federal civil cases going to trial from 1962 to 2013
- 9% to 4% — Adults reporting jury service from pre-2020 to 2025
Yes, but: While jury service boosts trust, declining trial rates and rising plea bargains limit citizens’ court exposure.
What's next: Legal professionals and court administrators may pursue enhanced civic education programs to rebuild public trust.