Every year, a remarkable group of attorneys from across Alabama converges in Montgomery for Bill Reading Day—an event rooted in legal vigilance and constitutional commitment. Among those participating annually is Erik Heninger, a devoted personal injury attorney whose involvement underscores a deep commitment to protecting one of the most fundamental liberties in American law: the right to a trial by jury. Alongside his colleagues and partners from the Alabama Association for Justice (ALAJ), including @alaj4j, Heninger spends the day carefully reviewing proposed legislation in the Alabama House and Senate. Their goal? To identify and challenge any language that could unintentionally—or intentionally—undermine the people’s access to civil justice and erode the 7th Amendment rights that generations of Americans have fought to preserve.
What Is Bill Reading Day?
Bill Reading Day is a selfless contribution of time, expertise, and legal insight. Roughly 25 attorneys volunteer to read and analyze hundreds of proposed bills—in many sessions reviewing them twice—with a keen focus on spotting provisions that could limit or restrict jury trial rights. In the most recent legislative session, this dedicated team reviewed more than 340 proposed bills that could touch on civil justice issues affecting everyday Alabamians.
The work is intensive and exacting. Attorneys read through legislative language line by line, evaluate legal implications, and prepare recommendations to alert lawmakers and the public to potential constitutional concerns. It’s an essential safeguard in a democratic system where laws are written quickly and often without full consideration of their long-term legal impact.
Why Focus on the 7th Amendment?
At the heart of the Bill Reading Day effort lies the Seventh Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects the right to a trial by jury in civil cases. The text of the amendment states:
“In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved…”
Although this amendment applies specifically to the federal system, nearly every state—including Alabama—mirrors this right in its own constitution. The essence of the 7th Amendment is simple yet profound: ordinary citizens, not judges or bureaucrats alone, should decide the facts of disputes involving legal claims and monetary damages.
This protection was crafted against a backdrop of historical abuses where centralized power—whether monarchical or judicial—could deny ordinary individuals a fair hearing. In colonial times, the absence of juries was a flashpoint of grievance against British rule; the Founders responded by ensuring this right became part of America’s Bill of Rights.
The Jury as a Human Right
While the 7th Amendment is a constitutional right, it also reflects core principles of fairness, accountability, and participatory justice—values that many legal scholars consider part of the broader framework of human rights. Civil jury trials empower everyday citizens to take part in administering justice, ensuring that decisions reflect community standards and lived experiences rather than solely judicial determinations or legislative fiat.
This participatory function helps balance power in the legal system. It prevents undue influence by powerful corporations or government entities and ensures that a cross-section of the community has a voice in fact-finding and accountability.
The jury system also sustains public confidence in the justice system. When ordinary people—not just legal experts—deliberate and decide outcomes of disputes, it creates legitimacy and trust. It reinforces the idea that justice is not an abstract ideal handed down from on high, but a lived reality shaped by the community.
Why Attorneys Fight to Preserve Jury Rights
Attorneys like Erik Heninger and the team with ALAJ recognize that the right to a jury trial is not merely a legal technicality—it’s a safeguard that allows citizens to challenge wrongdoing and seek redress on an equal footing.
For personal injury lawyers, the jury trial right is especially meaningful. This right ensures that injured individuals can present their case before a panel of peers and pursue compensation without being denied a jury simply because of procedural changes or legislative language that unintentionally narrows access to courts. In many personal injury claims—such as those involving medical malpractice, workplace injuries, or product defects—the ability to have a jury hear the facts can be the difference between meaningful justice and dismissal behind closed doors.
Every bill reviewed during Bill Reading Day could carry hidden consequences. A seemingly unrelated piece of legislation might include a clause that limits venue, changes procedural rules, caps damages, or alters jury thresholds in ways that could infringe on the 7th Amendment or state equivalents. The attorneys’ work is to spot these issues early, educate lawmakers, and preserve the public’s access to justice.
Impact Beyond Politics
Bill Reading Day is not about politics. It’s about protecting rights that transcend partisanship. It’s a demonstration that lawyers can use their expertise not just in courtrooms, but in the civic arena to defend the institution of law itself.
Erik Heninger’s participation—year after year—reflects a professional commitment to clients and a personal commitment to the rule of law. Together with ALAJ, these attorneys make a collective statement: that access to fair and impartial justice, rooted in community judgment, is worth defending.
Conclusion
The annual Bill Reading Day in Montgomery is a testament to what happens when legal professionals step up to protect fundamental rights before they are eroded. Through meticulous review, thoughtful analysis, and proactive engagement with lawmakers, attorneys like Erik Heninger and his peers help ensure that the 7th Amendment remains a living protection for all citizens.
In a time when legislative landscapes shift rapidly, this vigilance is more important than ever. The right to a jury trial is not only a constitutional guarantee—it is a foundational human right that preserves fairness, amplifies the voice of ordinary citizens, and safeguards justice for generations to come.
Protecting the Right to a Jury Trial—From the Capitol
We spent the day in Montgomery for Bill Reading Day with our friends at @ALAJ4J, reviewing more than 340 proposed bills from the Alabama Legislature.
Why? Because hidden in legislation—sometimes intentionally—can be language that chips away at your right to a trial by jury. That’s a right protected by the 7th Amendment, and we take that seriously.
Attorneys from across the state, including HGD’s own Erik Heninger, volunteered their time to protect this cornerstone of our civil justice system.
This isn’t just about legal theory—it’s about your ability to hold wrongdoers accountable and seek justice in court. And we’ll keep showing up to defend it.
#HGDLaw #CivilJustice #7thAmendment #ALAJ #AccessToJustice #BillReadingDay #Montgomery
