Supreme Court sides with death row inmate in racial discrimination case

CNN ^ | 5-23-16 | Ariane de Vogue

[Dacula]

The Supreme Court Monday morning ruled in favor of a death row inmate in a case concerning race discrimination in jury selection.

[SkyDancer]

Oh? Not enough killers and robbers on the jury panel; judged by his peers and all ....

[A CA Guy]

Since both the prosecution and defense get to exclude jurors, how is it possible that jurors of any color would not as Americans be capable of rendering a proper or fair verdict?

[Gay State Conservative]

Sounds like the prosecutor was looking for whites...and put it writing.Two bad moves IMO.But,in future,if I ever find myself on trial (which would be for the first time),I’ll make sure to note if my jury is anything less than about 70% white.

[Gay State Conservative]

You can be damn sure that Johnnie Cochrane was looking for jurors “of color”.That's why he sought to have the trial moved from where it should have been held (mainly white) to a more “diverse” jurisdiction.

[Gay State Conservative]

Since both the prosecution and defense get to exclude jurors, how is it possible that jurors of any color would not as Americans be capable of rendering a proper or fair verdict?

Or,to put it another way,why should either side be punished for wanting a jury that's most likely to serve *its* perceived interests?

[RedStateRocker]

Because one side has the power and authority of the state behind it, and thus should be held to a higher standard.

Just my opinion.

[OrangeHoof]

If you read the story, the Georgia prosecutors struck two black jurors, putting a “b” next to their names and highlighting them. The remaining jury were all whites.

The prosecution, honestly, was too blatant for the Supreme Court to rule otherwise and Clarence Thomas was the lone dissenter in a 7-1 ruling.

I’d have to agree with the defendant, this seems like a case where they intentionally struck out the jurors who were black. What’s shameful is that the Georgia courts couldn’t have overturned this before it ever got to SCOTUS.

[drjimmy]

Or,to put it another way,why should either side be punished for wanting a jury that's most likely to serve *its* perceived interests?

Under the law, race is specifically prohibited from being used as a reason for a peremptory challenge to seating a juror. Of course, it happens all the time, but the prosecution is usually not so foolish as to list all the black potential jurors with a "b" in their notes, and subsequently challenge all of those potential jurors.

[Carry me back]

More accusing whites of being racist. Of course the prosecution is looking for those it feels will side with them. That’s part of jury selection. On another note. How long has this case been going on? Why wasn’t he put to death already.

[afsnco]

Batson has been precedent law for a long time. The prosecutors know this, or should know this. It’s either laziness or stupidity, take your pick.

[BuckeyeTexan]

7-1, Thomas dissenting. Majority opinion by Roberts.

FReepmail me to subscribe to or unsubscribe from the SCOTUS ping list.

[knarf]

If the pool provides only white people f'rinstance ... you caN refuse 'til the cows come home ... yer gettin' a white jury

my guess without reading the article

[Cubs Fan]

Certainly mistakes were made. But what is a prosecutor to do when it is a known fact that too many blacks will side with criminals when the criminal is black? (even if the person they killed was black)

Black people need to seriously clean up their culture, just like Muslims.