I have served in Maryland and Virginia. I haven’t seen any real racial component either ... in all criminal cases, the defendants and the (alleged) victim(s) were of the same racial background.
Aside ...
I’m very glad to know that you actually served ... too many seemingly intelligent people deliberately try to avoid actual jury service.
I’m happy to serve on a jury. I have considered volunteering to serve in our county since I’m retired and have free time.
Once, I got kicked off during voir dire. It was a DWI case. The defendant’s attorney asked if I thought there was any reason when it would be OK for someone to drive drunk. I said no.
I guess they’re used to people trying to “get off”, so it was clear they didn’t believe me. They pushed it, and I said our family is totally opposed to it. The guy continued to push and said basically to prove it.
“My husband was president of MADD for 10 years in Xxxxx (I named the state). I was GONE!!
Once I was on a Coroner’s Jury, declaring a family legally dead after a boating accident.
That was a tough one — sad.