A number of prominent groups have filed supportive briefs with the North Carolina Supreme Court asking that the practice of racial bias in selecting jurors for death penalty cases be ended. Former senior military officials, families of murder victims, and potential jurors denied the opportunity to serve because of their race were among those arguing that a ruling under the state’s Racial Justice Act be upheld. In 2012, Judge Gregory Weeks held that Marcus Robinson’s (pictured) trial was tainted with racial discrimination and that there was evidence of similar bias around the state. Statistical studies showed that qualified African Americans were struck from juries at more than twice the rate of whites. Potential black jurors were removed for such reasons as membership in the NAACP or attending an historically black university. Robinson’s death sentence was reduced to life, but the Racial Justice Act was recently repealed after the ruling. The state supreme court will review Judge Weeks’ findings of bias. No briefs were filed by groups opposing the ruling in Robinson’s case.
(“First Racial Justice Act case heads to N.C. Supreme Court,” Triangle Tribune, August 12, 2013). See Race and New Voices.
