'Reluctant to Trust'?: NY Courts Continue to Grapple With Complexities of Jury Diversity
Increasing jurors' compensation, creating a travel stipend, child care services, and relaxing limits on people who struggle with English were among suggestions to diversify jury pools in upstate New York. The ideas were discussed during the second forum on jury diversification by the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission.
January 31, 2025 at 02:01 PM
8 minute read
The original version of this story was published on New York Law Journal
A lack of diversity on New York juries, particularly upstate, continues to plague courts, with the concern highlighted during Thursday’s daylong public hearing in Albany.
It was the second forum on the topic by the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission, a statewide body of judges, attorneys and court administrators dedicated to promoting racial and ethic fairness in courts. The commission is making the rounds to each of the Appellate Division's four locations to gather input for a forthcoming report.
A Black jurist, Ithaca City Court Judge Seth Peacock, offered that during his approximately 20 years as an attorney and judge, he’s seen just one person of color on a jury pool, despite pockets of diversity in the city.
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