Many people are forced to deal with the long-standing problem of racial bias. This isn’t only a problem in California courts; it continues happening throughout the country. With that said, many people are recognizing this problem and working on ways to stop it. Considering that, here are three potential ways to put an end to jury selection bias.
1. Make it harder to eliminate jurors
One of the best ways to deal with the problem of jury bias is by removing an attorney’s power to claim discriminatory intent. For example, courts could still be able to choose from a juror pool. However, the power to strike jurors would come from a judge instead of multiple attorneys. Some feel that this simple change might have a major impact on criminal defense strategies.
2. Publish data about jury selection
As you might know, courts collect data about who gets removed from a jury. Unfortunately, they don’t currently publish this information. However, some experts feel that doing so would hold attorneys, judges, prosecutors, and other decision-makers responsible in the public’s eyes.
3. Follow Washington’s recent ruling
Recently, the Washington Supreme Court passed a ruling that makes it more difficult for attorneys to remove jurors in that state. This new rule no longer allows legal professionals to strike jurors by using reasoning strongly correlated to race. Specifically, it stops attorneys from striking jurors that distrust or had prior contact with law enforcement.
At this time, the problem of jury bias continues to plague cases everywhere. If you or someone you know was the victim of bias in the courtroom, you might consider contacting a criminal defense lawyer to see what remedies might be available.
