jury selection
Why Washington’s jury diversity problem starts outside the courthouse
Chief Justice Steven González put a renewed spotlight on Washington’s lack of jury diversity in a recent opinion for the state’s highest court. In a unanimous decision last week, the state Supreme Court ruled that a Black man, Paul Rivers, was not denied a right to a fair trial when he was sentenced to life […]
Washington’s juries have a diversity problem, survey finds
People of color and those with lower incomes are underrepresented in Washington’s juries, according to a report released Monday. Black and Native jurors in particular “continue to face greater barriers to jury service,” Frank Thomas, an analyst for the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission, said in a statement. The study, completed by the Minority […]