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Community

Juries are drawn from the communities they serve, making them a unique feature of the justice system and a direct link between the public and the courts. This stage explores how law and policy define who is included in the jury pool, why representation matters, and how the Sixth Amendment guarantees a fair cross-section of the community.

In criminal cases, the jury is more than a decision-making body, it is a democratic safeguard rooted in the idea that justice should reflect the conscience of the community. But representation is not automatic. Systemic barriers such as exclusionary eligibility rules, unequal access to jury service, and disproportionate disqualification of certain groups can undermine the legitimacy of the process.

Key Topics:

  • Source list disparities

  • Exclusion through eligibility requirements

  • Underrepresentation in rural and urban jurisdictions

Key Resources:

  • Reports:

    • Race and the Jury: Illegal Discrimination in Jury Selection

    • What Do I Have to Do to Serve? by Dr. James M. Binnall

    • Creating Representative Juries in St. Louis County, MN

  • Tools:

    • Sample motions: Challenging jury pool composition

    • Legislation tracker: Jury inclusivity reform by state

  • Webinars:

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