Black Politics Now
  • Home
  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Criminal Justice
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Health
  • Policy
  • Reparations
  • Voter Rights
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Register
Black Politics Now
  • Home
  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Criminal Justice
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Health
  • Policy
  • Reparations
  • Voter Rights
No Result
View All Result
Black Politics Now
No Result
View All Result

Connecticut has implemented reforms to its jury selection system, yet racial disparities persist

Black Politics Now by Black Politics Now
December 20, 2024
in State Issues
0
judgement scale and gavel in judge office

(Photo courtesy of: Sora Shimazakivia Pexels)

74
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Dec 19, 2024 Story by: Editor

You might also like

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka sues interim US Attorney over arrest at immigration detention center

Minnesota makes history with ‘Office for Missing and Murdered Black Woman and Girls’

What is Texas Senate Bill 2?

In 2009, Shirin Bryant witnessed an all-white jury acquitting a white police detective who had fatally shot her 18-year-old brother, Jashon, in Hartford’s north end.

The detective, Robert Lawlor, claimed he had seen the Black teenager holding a gun while standing outside a car, but no firearm was found at the scene.

Following nearly two days of deliberation, the jury in Hartford chose not to convict the officer on manslaughter and assault charges. This decision raised concerns about the lack of racial diversity among the jurors.

Now, over 15 years later, Bryant says the racial composition of that jury continues to shape her perception of Connecticut’s judicial system.

“I have no trust in the judicial system,” she said. “I don’t feel like everyone gets a fair chance. My brother’s case alone has made me think differently. I feel the judicial system failed us.”

Connecticut’s judicial branch has since sought to address such concerns by revamping its jury selection process in recent years.

Efforts to Address Inequities

Since 2020, state officials have broadened the eligibility criteria for jury service, revamped the notifications sent to potential jurors, and increased jury summons in Connecticut’s larger cities to create a pool that better mirrors the state’s diversity.

However, new data gathered from more than 44,000 individuals who reported for jury service between November 2023 and May 2024 shows that racial disparities persist in several judicial districts.

For example, in the Stamford-Norwalk Judicial District, Black residents represent over 12% of the eligible jury population but account for less than 7% of those reporting for service. Similarly, in the Windham Judicial District, Hispanic individuals comprise nearly 12% of the eligible population but only around 7% of prospective jurors. In Hartford, the Hispanic population exceeds 17% but makes up just 10% of the jury pool.

The Importance of Jury Representation

These discrepancies, while not preventing Black and Hispanic individuals from being selected for most juries, can undermine public trust and hinder the formation of racially diverse juries. Research indicates that diverse juries engage in more thorough deliberations and consider evidence more comprehensively.

Richard Robinson, Connecticut’s first Black chief justice, emphasized the critical role of public confidence in the courts. “If people either feel the system is failing them or the system actually is failing them, you’ve got a problem and you need to address that,” said Robinson, who initiated a review of the jury selection process.

Nina Chernoff, a City University of New York law professor specializing in jury diversity, underscored the democratic importance of representative juries. “The way we maintain a democratic judicial system is to have members of the community weighing in,” Chernoff said. “To the extent that a jury fails to reflect the community, it’s unable to serve its core purpose.”

A Personal Perspective

For Bryant, whose cousin was also severely injured in the 2009 incident, the absence of neighborhood representation on the jury remains a source of frustration. She feels the all-white suburban jury lacked understanding of her community’s experiences.

“Here we were in the inner city, and we have a jury that may all be from the suburbs,” Bryant said. “Honestly, I feel like Black people as a whole don’t get the same equality. I feel my brother didn’t get a fair chance.”

She added, “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about my brother. And I never forgot the trial. I never forgot walking in and seeing an all-white jury.” Source: ct mirror

Tags: Connecticut jury system reformsCT jury selection overhaulJury selection racial bias CTRacial disparities in jury selection
Share30Tweet19
Black Politics Now

Black Politics Now

Recommended For You

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka sues interim US Attorney over arrest at immigration detention center

by Black Politics Now
June 5, 2025
0
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka sues interim US Attorney over arrest at immigration detention center

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka filed a lawsuit against interim U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Alina Habba and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent Ricky Patel alleging false arrest, malicious...

Read moreDetails

Minnesota makes history with ‘Office for Missing and Murdered Black Woman and Girls’

by Black Politics Now
April 24, 2025
0
Minnesota makes history with ‘Office for Missing and Murdered Black Woman and Girls’

In a historic move, Minnesota officially launched the nation’s first “Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Office” during a ceremony at the State Capitol on April 9.

Read moreDetails

What is Texas Senate Bill 2?

by Black Politics Now
April 22, 2025
0
What is Texas Senate Bill 2?

Senate Bill 2 would allow families to use taxpayer dollars to fund a child's education at an accredited private school.

Read moreDetails

Colorado bill establishing standards for Black history education passes House

by Black Politics Now
April 22, 2025
0
Colorado bill establishing standards for Black history education passes House

The Colorado House passed a bill that would establish standards for Black history and culture studies in the state. The sponsor of HB25-1149, is Colorado Springs Democratic Rep. Regina...

Read moreDetails

Thousands of voters must verify information in contested election, NC Supreme Court rules

by Black Politics Now
April 13, 2025
0
Thousands of voters must verify information in contested election, NC Supreme Court rules

North Carolina’s top court cleared the way for some voters’ ballots in a contested state Supreme Court race to be tossed months after the election, opening a path...

Read moreDetails
Next Post
Image Source: Jeff Abbott/ El Paso Times

Renard Johnson elected El Paso’s first Black mayor in runoff election

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

ADVERTISEMENT

Related News

Amazon Prime delivery truck. Photo by David Paul Morris, captured for Bloomberg via Getty Images.

District of Columbia says Amazon secretly stopped fast deliveries to 2 predominantly Black ZIP codes

December 10, 2024
Image Source: Red Sole and Red Wine

What is the Greenwood Project?

February 13, 2025
Image Source: NAACP Detroit Branch

LDF sues US Department of Education over termination of ‘Equity Assistance Center’ grant

May 15, 2025
Black Politics Now

Get informed on African American politics with "Black Politics Now," your ultimate source for political engagement.

CATEGORIES

  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Congressional Black Caucus
  • Criminal Justice
  • Data
  • Department of Justice
  • Diversity Initiatives
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Enviroment
  • Equity
  • Hate Crimes
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Investigations
  • Legal Defense Fund
  • NAACP
  • Policy
  • Real Estate
  • Reparations
  • Research
  • Sports
  • State Issues
  • Study
  • Supreme Court
  • Technology
  • Voter Rights
  • World

Quick Link

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of service
  • Contact us

Download Our App

© 2024 Black Politics Now | All Right Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
wpChatIcon
wpChatIcon
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Civil Rights
  • Criminal Justice
  • Education
  • Elections
  • Health
  • Policy
  • Reparations
  • Voter Rights
  • Login
  • Sign Up
  • Cart
SUBSCRIBE

© 2024 Black Politics Now | All Right Reserved

Join the Movement, Subscribe Now!(Don't worry, we'll never spam you!)

Don’t miss a beat—get the latest news, inspiring stories, and in-depth coverage of the issues that matter most to the Black community. Be part of the conversation and stay connected.

Enter your email address