GRAND JURY SELECTION - VOTER REGISTRATION LISTS AS A CROSS SECTION OF THE COMMUNITY

• NCJ Number: 12711
• Journal: Oregon Law Review Volume: 52 Issue: 4 Dated: (SUMMER 1973) Pages: 482-498
• Author(s): H M FIELDS
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 17 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Oregon
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ARGUMENT THAT SELECTING GRAND JURORS FROM VOTER LISTS MAY BE INADEQUATE AND DISCRIMINATORY IF ANY COMMUNITY GROUP IS TOTALLY EXCLUDED OR SYSTEMATICALLY FAILS TO REGISTER.

Abstract

THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT A CANVASSING APPROACH TO VOTER REGISTRATION WOULD ELIMINATE SUBTLE FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION OFTEN FOUND IN VOTER LISTS. ALTHOUGH THIS METHOD OF JURY SELECTION IS STILL UNDESIRABLE SINCE IT REQUIRES ENFRANCHISEMENT AS A PREREQUISITE TO GRAND JURY AVAILABILTY, IT IS SUPERIOR TO THOSE METHODS CURRENTLY IN USE. THE MOST FAVORABLE METHOD OF GRAND JUROR SELECTION WOULD BE RANDOM SELECTION FROM LISTS COMPILED VIA A SPECIAL YEARLY CENSUS, PERHAPS COMPLETED BY MAIL.