Louisville, Ky., Judge Dismisses All-White Jury for Lack of Diversity During Black Man’s Trial The Kentucky Supreme Court will decide whether a black Louisville judge abused his power after he reportedly stopped the drug trial of a black man because the jury was all-white. According to the Courier-Journal, Jefferson Circuit Judge Olu Stevens dismissed the jury members despite concerns from both the defense and the prosecutor. This isn't the first time the judge has asked an all-white jury out of his courtroom. On Nov. 18, at the request of a defense attorney concerned that his client, who was on trial for theft, would not receive a fair judgment, Judge Stevens dismissed an all-white 13-member jury. "There is not a single African-American on this jury and [the defendant] is an African-American man," Stevens said to a jury on a courtroom recording. "I cannot in good conscious go forward with this jury." The newspaper notes that a new jury was called in the next day, four of whose members were black. The Jefferson County Commonwealth's Attorney’s Office and attorney general have now asked the Kentucky Supreme Court to see if Stevens' jury dismissals based on race surpassed his authority as a judge, the newspaper reports. A secretary for Judge Stevens told the newspaper that he had no comment. http://www.theroot.com/articles/new..._jury_for_lack_of_diversity_during_black.html
They need to look at this properly ie he was doing the legal system a service by making sure the trial ran smoothly with less reason to appeal at a later date. If they just looked at these things as a money saving exercise they would be kissing his backside. Fair trial and conviction (less chance of an appeal at a later date) Fair trial and no conviction (not wasting money on incarcerating an innocent man)
This is the kind of cat supporters need to get behind and encourage him to run for national office. When the DA puts together a racist ass jury to railroad a defendant, you never hear of a judge dismissing the entire jury for lack of diversity. The judge did some historic work.rayer:
LOL. Supreme Court justices are all political appointments and come down to who you know. If this judge got in good with Hillary, hell yes he'd have a shot at the U.S. Supreme Court. But with ol' Uncle Clarence up there, we probably have reached our Black quota of Supreme Court justices for the near future.