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Ok let’s talk about it. Jury selection takes place before a trial. Potential jurors are called to go through what is called the voir dire process where they are asked questions to see if they are eligible to sit in on a trial. https://twitter.com/sturgeons_law/status/1384640320747442178">https://twitter.com/sturgeons...
Jurors are pooled from drivers license registries, voter registration, sometimes property tax rolls, etc. it is important to note that people of lower socioeconomic class are less likely to be on these lists already because they may not have licenses or be registered to vote, etc
Jurors can be struck one of two ways
1. For cause — this happens when a juror is too prejudiced to decide a case impartially
2. Peremptory strikes— either the prosecution or defense can strike a juror for no reason, they have a certain amount each.
1. For cause — this happens when a juror is too prejudiced to decide a case impartially
2. Peremptory strikes— either the prosecution or defense can strike a juror for no reason, they have a certain amount each.
In Batson v. Kentucky, it was held that you can’t strike a juror based on race. But the burden to prove that a juror has been struck due to their race is v high so it makes Batson challenges difficult to actually prove bc literally any other reason other than race can be given
Prosecutors may ask more questions of potential black jurors than potential white jurors to find another reason to strike them.
Why is this important? Because it has been documented that prosecutors have disproportionately struck black potential jurors with their peremptory strikes. It’s actually a strategy for favorable outcomes when the defendant is black.
Did you know that having JUST ONE black juror sit on a capital trial equalizes the conviction rates between black and white defendants? Just one.
That’s WHY it’s so important to have a diverse jury. Not just an all white jury. The thing is that you are not guaranteed a representative jury, just an impartial one. But how impartial is an all-white jury if conviction rates change so drastically with the addition of 1 poc?
I don’t see the people complaining rn raising a single issue when all white juries have convicted MANY black men (some who have been proven innocent of their crimes) to years of incarceration and sometimes even death sentences.
It was a GOOD thing that the Chauvin trial had a diverse jury. It is something we should strive for in our trials. But don’t just take my word for it, do your own research. Race places a very big role in every single crevice of the CMJS system. We must be aware of that.
This is very basic information (I’m not an expert by any means) that I literally had no idea about until I started taking legal studies classes but I think it is something more people should be aware of! There is really good jury research out there. Plz trust that over me.
