We were called for three days of jury duty but were dismissed shorty after noon of the first day for want of need. However, looking over the hundred plus people who showed up caused us to reflect on how we would feel if we were an African American or a Latino on trial.
Supposedly the accused facing a jury trial are entitled to a trial by peers. Let’s look at a definition of “peer”.
“One that is of equal standing with another : equal; especially : one belonging to the same societal group especially based on age, grade, or status” – Merriam-Webster
The White population in Lancaster was about 88% according to the 2010 census. By simply extrapolating from the 2000 census, it is reasonable to assume that today it is about 86%. Because of prior convictions and other considerations such as non-registration to vote, the percentage of non-whites called for jury duty was likely to be even less.
The sub pool of 21 candidates for our specific jury pool had no African-Americans and, as far as I could tell, only one Latino.
Is an African American facing a jury with only one, if any representative of his community, being tried by his or her peers?
Would a jury be more sympathetic if he or she were being tried in the racially diverse Philadelphia?
Should jury selection be weighted to better reflect the race of the accused?
Just thoughts while sitting around killing time.
Lancaster has a long history within the Judicial system and print media of quietly adhering to “Jim Crow” philosophies when it comes to racial understandings. One of the reasons that the Convention Center was so vigorously promoted was that it would hopefully change the ‘face’ of downtown residents by encouraging more upscale housing that would be attractive to a ‘certain’ demographic.
Nothing new here….LNP seldom reports on the ‘diversity’ of jury selection.
What are you suggesting? If a two-time felon comes to trial should the jury be made up of former convicts? If a white collar suspect comes to trial should the jury be made up of Wall St bankers?
Try to have some faith in the system and honest humanity. Not everything is a conspiracy.
EDITOR: By “peer”, we were not suggesting fellow criminal. We were advocating a jury roughy representative of our national diversity. One cannot get this in Lancaster. Lancaster is not to blame. Being caucasian, I would especially hate to have to face a jury that was almost all African American or Latino. How about you?
“By ‘peer’, we were not suggesting fellow criminal. We were advocating a jury roughy representative of our national diversity. One cannot get this in Lancaster. Lancaster is not to blame. Being caucasian, I would especially hate to have to face a jury that was almost all African American or Latino. How about you?”
I understand and agree with your thought. However I’m very disappointed that years after we’ve reached racial equality (in my mind) our society is still so focused on race. I, (a white man), would genuinely not fear facing a jury of blacks or latinos because I do feel that they would render a fair verdict. Although if it involved the death of a minority person I guess I would very much fear that jury. I suppose I just wish we could move on from this constant focus on race and try to improve things for everyone.