I reported for jury duty yesterday and was the only Black person who showed up. Why am I mentioning this? Because one of the best ways we can change the criminal justice system (the same one we accuse of biased against Blacks) is to become part of it by sitting on juries.
Yes, the selection process can be long and boring. Yes, there are a million other things you can and, in fact, should be doing with that time, but we’re talking about people’s lives and futures here. We all know Black men are incarcerated at disproportionate rates and that they get longer sentences than White men who commit the same crimes. If we want to change this, we have to participate in the system.
Can All Jurors Be Fair? Hmmm…
Although I wasn’t selected to be on the jury, I was chosen to sit through the entire vetting process. Before I could be called up for questioning, 12 jurors and 2 alternates had already been vetted and selected. I won’t go into much detail about the case except to say it revolved around a Hispanic man charged with a DUI and all 7 witnesses against him we’re CHP officers. Without knowing anything else, you probably have an idea of how this is going to turn out. Please keep reading anyway.
Several of the jurors vetted had connections to law enforcement. One White woman was married to a police officer and another White male was the son of an officer. The judge knew both of the officers these two were related to and was still willing to let them serve as long as they thought they could keep an open mind. The son admitted he couldn’t be fair or impartial so he was excused, but the woman said she could be. This is all self-reporting, of course, and the judge took both at their word. The defense dismissed the woman as I don’t think they believed her. Another Hispanic man, who was ultimately selected as an alternate, works in a prison and so does his wife. Needless to say, they know a lot of law enforcement officers. There was also a White retired fire Captain selected for the main jury who knew tons of law enforcement officers and who’d seen his share of DUI accidents, injuries and deaths. No bias there, I’m sure. Oh and I almost forgot about the White woman who knew one of the attorneys, but only in a professional capacity. She was also allowed to remain on the jury.
This just gives you a rough idea of a few people who showed up and some who were ultimately chosen to serve. Do you think they’ll be biased? Do you think they’ll give more weight to the testimonies of the CHP officers simply BECAUSE they’re officers? I think both are distinct possibilities. People think they can be unbiased just like they think they aren’t racist even when they do racist things.
Are People Who Avoid Jury Duty the Very Ones the System Needs?
Several of the people dismissed came to be so because they clearly didn’t want to serve. Excuses given were that they thought the system was corrupt, they didn’t trust police, they’ve had bad experiences with the court and loved ones, they thought they’ve been treated unfairly by the system before, etc. All but one were of color. With each being excused, they left a mostly White pool of potentials, many of whom had family members and friends who were police. Do you see a potential issue here? Do you think some of the people who asked to be excused should have opted to stay?
I really wanted to be on that jury, but they just didn’t get to me before the 12 and 2 alternates were vetted and selected. It’s unfortunate because listening to the questions posed by the judge and both attorneys I, too, believe I could’ve been fair and unbiased. While I think the system isn’t always fair and just, I think it can be with the right balance of people on a jury. While I think law enforcement officers can and certainly do lie, I also personally know officers who don’t. Maybe the others will and maybe they won’t, but I know for a fact I wouldn’t have given more credence to the CHP officer’s testimonies simply because they are officers. And while I think driving under the influence is awful, I think a man who opts for a jury trial with a slew of officers as witnesses against him just may be innocent. (Seriously, who does that?) Being that all accused are innocent until proven guilty, I do believe my mind to be open enough to hearing all of the evidence and giving my best vote.
I Will Never Avoid Jury Duty
Regardless, I wasn’t selected this time, but I will clear my schedule and report for my civic duty whenever I am called again. I want to encourage all of you to do the same. The system is unfair at times, yes, but remember that juries are a part of that system. We owe it to society, especially to its Black and brown members, not to leave juries in the hands of largely White and possibly biased people who have close relationships with police. This doesn’t make them bad or incapable jurors, but humans are human and, as such, we often tend to favor those we’re most familiar with. I’m just saying.
What Do You Think?
Have you ever served on a jury? Do you try to avoid service when called? What are your thoughts on the criminal justice system and do you think jury service is important? Comment below or tag me in your thoughts on social media @lalalivesonline.
