| Wednesday 12 September 2007 |
|
Celebrity jurors help postal service issue Jury Duty stamp
The U.S. Postal Service continues its tradition of drawing attention to important social causes by issuing the Jury Duty stamp at the Manhattan State Supreme Court today, September 12, in New York City. The first-day-of-issuance ceremony highlighted the Juror Appreciation Day celebration, an annual event that salutes New York jurors. Mary Anne Gibbons, senior vice president, general counsel of the Postal Service co-hosted the ceremony with Chief Judge Judith Kaye of New York.
"Serving on a jury is an important part of public service to our communities," said Gibbons. "It is a role that should be taken most seriously. This stamp is an excellent way to highlight its significance."
"I am thrilled by the Postal Service's issuance of the Jury Duty stamp, which celebrates the important role of our citizenry in the delivery of justice," said Chief Judge Kaye. "We rightly take pride in this uniquely American institution, which has been a great strength of our nation from its very beginnings."
With this stamp, the U.S. Postal Service calls attention to the importance of jury service, an essential obligation, shared by all eligible citizens, that is a cornerstone of democracy in the United States. By showing a diverse group of 12 representative jurors in silhouette, art director Carl T. Herrman and stamp designer Lance Hidy emphasize that, under the U.S. Constitution, the American jury system guarantees citizens the right to a trial by a jury of their peers.
Joining Gibbons and Judge Kaye were Robert J. Grey, Jr., Past President, American Bar Association; Sade Baderinwa, Co-anchor Eyewitness News, WABC-TV, New York, who emceed the event; celebrity jurors Cindy Adams, New York Post Columnist; Mariah Carey, singer/actress; Bernadette Peters, actress/singer; Paulina Porizkova, supermodel/actress; and, Richard Thomas, actor. Other attendees included judges from across the country.
The Postal Service produced 40 million 41-cent stamps in pane of 20. Beginning today, the Jury Duty stamp can be purchased online at the Postal Store at www.usps.com/shop, by calling toll-free 800-STAMP-24, at philatelic centers nationwide and at local Post Offices.
(excerpt from PRNewswire - Mariah Daily Journal)
|
