The Kentucky Supreme Court is considering a case that could determine what power, if any, judges have to dismiss a jury because it lacks diversity.
The case stems from a decision by Jefferson County Circuit Judge Olu Stevens to dismiss a jury panel because only one perspective juror was black.
The Supreme Court justices spent nearly an hour grilling Jefferson County lawyers Thursday.
A lawyer with the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office argued that Stevens erred in dismissing the jury because there was no proof of “systematic exclusion” of any group because jurors are selected randomly.
However, an attorney with the Louisville public defender’s office said it’s impossible to prove systematic bias in jury selection because the state does not keep data on race of jurors.
Source: AP
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