NCJ Number
100551
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: (1986) Pages: 61-69
Date Published
1985
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Recent litigation in State and Federal courts in the United States suggests that black prospective jurors may be systematically excluded from sitting on trial juries through the issue of peremptory challenges during the voir dire process.
Abstract
Numerous trial and appellate cases have reaffirmed the importance of excluding prospective jurors without cause through peremptory challenges. An insufficient number of studies have examined peremptory challenge data to determine if a systematic bias against black prospective jurors actually exists. This study analyzes peremptory challenges issued by both prosecution and defense to determine if both adversary parties agree on the proclivity of black jurors to influence a jury verdict in a given direction. The study concludes that both prosecution and defense agree, as evidenced in the issue of peremptory challenges, that jurors are prone to move a jury toward a verdict of acquittal. (Author abstract)