Judging Juries Directed by Abby Ginzberg, (TPFF Alumni) has been nominated for the 56th NAACP Image Awards in the category of Outstanding Documentary (Short Form). This recognition honors the film’s powerful exploration of systemic inequities in jury representation and its urgent call for justice reform.

JUDGING JURIES: NAACP IMAGE AWARDS NOMINEE FOR OUTSTANDING SHORT FORM DOCUMENTARY
We’re thrilled to announce that Judging Juries, directed by Peabody Award-winning director and Emmys® Silver Circle filmmaker Abby Ginzberg, has been nominated for a 2025 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Short Form Documentary. This powerful film sheds light on systemic inequities in jury representation and advocates for meaningful reform to create a fairer judicial system.

” “Judging Juries” investigates the systemic inequities in jury representation across the United States, particularly the barriers—both financial and social—that prevent low-income individuals and people of color from fulfilling their civic duties. These barriers contribute to the lack of jury diversity, which undermines fairness and equality in the judicial system. The documentary highlights the financial hardships faced by potential jurors, especially in states like California ($15 per day), Pennsylvania ($9 per day), and Mississippi ($5 per day). These low compensation rates disproportionately affect marginalized communities, preventing many individuals from participating in jury duty.

Additionally, the film critiques the practice of peremptory challenges, which allow attorneys to dismiss jurors without justification. Historically, this practice has been used to disproportionately remove Black and Latino jurors, leaving juries that do not reflect the communities they serve.
The film features Brendon Woods, the Alameda County Public Defender, a major advocate for reform, who states: “This is not just a problem in Oakland or California; it is a problem throughout the United States.”

The film also highlights San Francisco’s Be the Jury program, a pilot initiative offering $100 daily compensation for jurors. This program demonstrates how equitable pay can broaden participation and foster more representative juries, providing a potential model for reform across the country.