Racial Bias in Jury Selection: Analyzing Limitations of the Batson Doctrine

Name Institutional Affiliations Date Racial Bias in Jury Introduction Racial discrimination is a common experience among Americans in different areas of life. Race enhances inequalities and unfair treatment of many Americans, especially in job-related areas. Jury selection is among the civic areas that demand fairness from selection to decisions. Unfortunately, race determines who takes the most privileged position on the jury. For this reason, racial bias in jury selection becomes this essay's main problem of study. The essay analyses the major triggers of racial bias in jury selection following limitations of such occurrences through the Batson v Kentucky court ruling of 1986. Peremptory challenges and strikes serve as the major approaches coined around race that the prosecutors use to justify the exception of minorities within the jury. Why has Batson failed to eliminate racial bias in jury selection? Are there hidden protections within the Batson doctrine that empowers prosecutors' peremptory challenges used during the jury selection process or the defendants during juror trials? The essay uses arguments from credible scholars addressing the topic under study to thoroughly analyze what fosters a full-white jury representation limiting justice for people of color in terms of juror decisions on any issue therein. The selection of sources that serve as literature within this essay followed a close analysis of the topic relating it to credible sources on the topic that provide qualitative approaches to the subject matter. Consideration of the credibility of the authors is another approach that enhances the selection of the most appropriate sources grounded on reliable facts from scholars who have defined knowledge and credentials to address racial bias in jury selection. Most of the literature authors have defined knowledge in psychology, political science and law, which defines the credibility and viability of their articles in addressing the subject of study. All sources considered as potential literature for this essay argue racial bias as a potential factor that enhances unequal representation in the jury. Most sources view peremptory challenges and strikes as the major approaches used to justify the applicability of racial differences in determining juror representatives hampering fairness in any other decisions placed in the hands of such representatives. Following such arguments, one can conclude that the sources aim at analyzing racial bias in a jury, paying close attention to jury selection, thus connecting to the main questions that the current essay aims to address. Findings/ Results (data and evidence) Jury selection is an opportunity that opens doors to civic duty entitled to all qualified Americans. In the article “The Case for Jury Inclusiveness and Reform” by McCormick (2022), President Thomas Jefferson referred to jury services as the only anchor ever imagined by humans through which a government can help to the principles of its constitution. Unfortunately, racial bias still limits equality in jury selection. Following a close analysis of the constitution of jury representatives, one can confirm that race subjects’ the whites to opportunity privilege, as most cases addressed by literature considered within this essay confirm over 90% of white representatives within juries. How does such a misrepresentation of people of color affect justice regarding issues vested on jurors? It is obvious that most of the judgments made in juries favor the majority, where the least represented always lies at the mercies of the dominating race. In such an environment, race hinders the realization of a just and fair jury, thus limiting the reliability of any decisions made therein. Following arguments and facts provided with considered literature, this essay will confirm that race negatively affects the attitudes and behavior of the prosecutors during the jury selection process hindering justice of any outcome thereafter. Batson doctrine is among the major approach that shapes most authors' arguments on racial bias in jury. Most of the arguments analyze why the doctrine has failed in addressing and limiting racial bias in jury selection or juror decisions while addressing mi