Striking the Black Man

Dallas County is accused of targetting eligable black jurors for exclusion. It's one of those charges that is uncomfortable because it's true and it's rational, yet they can't admit to doing it. DA Bill Hill denies it, saying that while they may strike more black jurors, it's because "for one reason or another, they (prosecutors) don’t think they are going to be fair and impartial." I could come up with a number of comparisons, none of them particularly favorable.

posted at 1:03:33 AM on 10/13/2005 by RAW - Category: General

Comments

SAM wrote:

The interesting question behind this (which I am not qualified to answer) is this.

A citizen has the right to be tried by a jury of his peers; there is no "right" to be one of those peers. So, how are the citizen's rights affected by this exclusion? If a defendant is black (presumably the case in which harm is likeliest), does a jury of whites somehow not consist of "peers"? This seems an uncomfortable issue for both sides. I am betting that prosecutorial discretion will carry the day.
10/19/2005 9:08:12 AM

R. Alex wrote:

I think it's mostly uncomfortable because as much as people would like to think differently, this is a case where race *does* matter. A juror cannot claim to be discriminated against, but I do feel as though the defendant may have a legitimate beef. I know I would be particularly uncomfortable if I was a police officer accused of using unnecessary lethal force against a minority and I had an entirely minority jury.
10/19/2005 9:15:41 AM

 
 

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