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NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Committed to ending the death penalty and creating a new vision of justice

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  • Why End the Death Penalty?
    • Column 1
      • Racism
      • Innocence
      • Intellectual Disability & Mental Illness
    • Column 2
      • Public Safety
      • High Cost of Death
      • Waning Support
    • Column 3
      • Lethal Injection
      • Antiquated Sentences
      • Unfair Trials
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Search NC Coalition for Alternatives to the Death Penalty

Racial Justice Act

Racist jury strikes go on trial in the NC Supreme Court

Feb 1, 2023
Russell Tucker was a Black man facing the death penalty in the South in the “tough-on-crime” 1990s. He deserved the chance to be tried by a jury of his peers. However, a Forsyth County prosecutor came up with reason after reason why Black people could not remain on the jury. On Feb. 8, Mr. Tucker's attorneys will present evidence to the NC Supreme Court that jurors were illegally excluded because of their race.... Read More →

Racist jury strikes go on trial in the NC Supreme Court

February 1, 2023 · Kristin Collins

Russell Tucker was a Black man facing the death penalty in the South in the “tough-on-crime” 1990s. He deserved the chance to be tried by a jury of his peers. However, a Forsyth County prosecutor came up with reason after reason why Black people could not remain on the jury. On Feb. 8, Mr. Tucker’s attorneys will present evidence to the NC Supreme Court that jurors were illegally excluded because of their race…. Read More →

Filed Under: Blog, Racial Bias, Racial Justice Act

In life-and-death cases, the jury box must be open to all — not just those most prone to convict

Aug 24, 2022
We already know from our experience with the Racial Justice Act how prosecutors work to keep juries in capital cases overwhelmingly white, using the tool of peremptory strikes. Now, new […]

In life-and-death cases, the jury box must be open to all — not just those most prone to convict

August 24, 2022 · Kristin Collins

We already know from our experience with the Racial Justice Act how prosecutors work to keep juries in capital cases overwhelmingly white, using the tool of peremptory strikes. Now, new […]

Filed Under: Blog, Racial Bias, Racial Justice Act, Wake County

Remembering Marcus Robinson, who helped expose death penalty racism

Jul 1, 2022
Reposted from the Center for Death Penalty Litigation Earlier this month, Marcus Robinson was found dead in his cell at Scotland Correctional Institution. The prison ruled it a suicide. He […]

Remembering Marcus Robinson, who helped expose death penalty racism

July 1, 2022 · Kristin Collins

Reposted from the Center for Death Penalty Litigation Earlier this month, Marcus Robinson was found dead in his cell at Scotland Correctional Institution. The prison ruled it a suicide. He […]

Filed Under: Blog, Racial Justice Act

George Floyd Memorial

Chauvin trial shows that justice requires diverse, inclusive juries

Apr 22, 2021
No one should have been on the edge of their seat about the verdict in Derek Chauvin’s trial. He was caught on video kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes as Floyd begged for his life. But this is America, where police are almost never held accountable, so we held our breath and prepared for Chauvin to be acquitted. But in this rare case, a jury of six white, four Black and two multiracial people provided a measure of justice, finding Chauvin guilty of murder. Surely, the jury’s diverse makeup helped it reach this much-needed verdict. Yet, it’s exactly this kind of diversity that prosecutors often work to avoid. They strike Black citizens from juries at far higher rates than whites. Then, when they’re accused of violating the law prohibiting racist jury strikes, they offer the flimsiest possible defenses. And no matter how implausible their excuses are, they almost always get away with it. ... Read More →

Chauvin trial shows that justice requires diverse, inclusive juries

April 22, 2021 · Kristin Collins

George Floyd Memorial
George Floyd Memorial

No one should have been on the edge of their seat about the verdict in Derek Chauvin’s trial. He was caught on video kneeling on George Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes as Floyd begged for his life. But this is America, where police are almost never held accountable, so we held our breath and prepared for Chauvin to be acquitted. But in this rare case, a jury of six white, four Black and two multiracial people provided a measure of justice, finding Chauvin guilty of murder. Surely, the jury’s diverse makeup helped it reach this much-needed verdict. Yet, it’s exactly this kind of diversity that prosecutors often work to avoid. They strike Black citizens from juries at far higher rates than whites. Then, when they’re accused of violating the law prohibiting racist jury strikes, they offer the flimsiest possible defenses. And no matter how implausible their excuses are, they almost always get away with it. … Read More →

Filed Under: Latest News, National News, Public Safety Officials, Racial Bias, Racial Justice Act

James Ferguson II on the meaning, impact and promise of the Racial Justice Act

Jun 17, 2020
  This article was originally published on June 17, 2020 in the NC Policy Watch. When I was a young Black lawyer in the late 1960’s and 1970’s, there was […]

James Ferguson II on the meaning, impact and promise of the Racial Justice Act

June 17, 2020 · Emily Baxter

  This article was originally published on June 17, 2020 in the NC Policy Watch. When I was a young Black lawyer in the late 1960’s and 1970’s, there was […]

Filed Under: Blog, Criminal Justice Reform, Latest News, Racial Bias, Racial Justice Act

Landmark N.C. Supreme Court ruling brings death penalty racism into spotlight

Jun 5, 2020
The Center for Death Penalty Litigation’s June 5 2020 Press Release: The North Carolina Supreme Court today issued two landmark civil rights rulings on the Racial Justice Act, clearing the […]

Landmark N.C. Supreme Court ruling brings death penalty racism into spotlight

June 5, 2020 · Emily Baxter

The Center for Death Penalty Litigation’s June 5 2020 Press Release: The North Carolina Supreme Court today issued two landmark civil rights rulings on the Racial Justice Act, clearing the […]

Filed Under: Latest News, Racial Bias, Racial Justice Act

Justices' benches at the Supreme Court of the State of North Carolina

NC Supreme Court sends a message to judges: Start taking jury discrimination seriously

May 6, 2020
In these days of COVID, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by bad news. But we shouldn’t forget to celebrate good news, and we’ve had a little of that in the past week. On Friday, the North Carolina Supreme Court issued a decision that sends a clear message: North Carolina’s courts must finally begin to take the exclusion of black jurors seriously. The decision says that, when a person on trial suggests that a prosecutor struck a  juror because of the juror’s race, the courts must fully investigate. They must consider the history of disproportionate jury strikes in the county, and compare the treatment of white people and people of color in the jury pool to see if it’s been equal. If these sound like no brainers, that’s because they are. This is the least the courts can do to begin to end the decades-long practice of denying people of color a voice in the criminal punishment system.... Read More →

NC Supreme Court sends a message to judges: Start taking jury discrimination seriously

May 6, 2020 · Kristin Collins

Justices' benches at the Supreme Court of the State of North Carolina
Justices' benches at the Supreme Court of the State of North Carolina

In these days of COVID, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by bad news. But we shouldn’t forget to celebrate good news, and we’ve had a little of that in the past week. On Friday, the North Carolina Supreme Court issued a decision that sends a clear message: North Carolina’s courts must finally begin to take the exclusion of black jurors seriously. The decision says that, when a person on trial suggests that a prosecutor struck a  juror because of the juror’s race, the courts must fully investigate. They must consider the history of disproportionate jury strikes in the county, and compare the treatment of white people and people of color in the jury pool to see if it’s been equal. If these sound like no brainers, that’s because they are. This is the least the courts can do to begin to end the decades-long practice of denying people of color a voice in the criminal punishment system…. Read More →

Filed Under: Latest News, Racial Bias, Racial Justice Act

A history-making day in the North Carolina Supreme Court

Sep 12, 2019
At the end of August, our movement made history. A group of talented attorneys from across the state and the nation argued before the North Carolina Supreme Court. At issue […]

A history-making day in the North Carolina Supreme Court

September 12, 2019 · Kristin Collins

At the end of August, our movement made history. A group of talented attorneys from across the state and the nation argued before the North Carolina Supreme Court. At issue […]

Filed Under: Latest News, Racial Justice Act, Uncategorized

Coming up: Racial Justice Act cases will put evidence of death penalty racism before the North Carolina Supreme Court

Aug 19, 2019
A big day is coming up, and we need your help! Beginning one week from today, North Carolina’s highest court will hear six cases under the North Carolina Racial Justice Act. These cases go to the heart of our fight to end the racist death penalty. They include stunning evidence of racism in death penalty trials. The court will have to decide whether that evidence will get its day in court, or whether it will be thrown away. The decision comes down to whether the state will be allowed to execute people whose death sentences are tainted by racism.... Read More →

Coming up: Racial Justice Act cases will put evidence of death penalty racism before the North Carolina Supreme Court

August 19, 2019 · Kristin Collins

A big day is coming up, and we need your help! Beginning one week from today, North Carolina’s highest court will hear six cases under the North Carolina Racial Justice Act. These cases go to the heart of our fight to end the racist death penalty. They include stunning evidence of racism in death penalty trials. The court will have to decide whether that evidence will get its day in court, or whether it will be thrown away. The decision comes down to whether the state will be allowed to execute people whose death sentences are tainted by racism…. Read More →

Filed Under: Latest News, Racial Justice Act

The whitening of the jury: How discrimination thrives in NC courtrooms

Aug 1, 2019
Black people have a constitutional right to serve on juries, just like white people. That should go without saying. But the reality is that prosecutors use all kinds of tricks […]

The whitening of the jury: How discrimination thrives in NC courtrooms

August 1, 2019 · Kristin Collins

Black people have a constitutional right to serve on juries, just like white people. That should go without saying. But the reality is that prosecutors use all kinds of tricks […]

Filed Under: Latest News, Racial Bias, Racial Justice Act

Keith Tharpe death penalty Georgia

Keith Tharpe is not an anomaly. Lots of death row inmates have been called at “n___r” at their trials.

Oct 4, 2017
Last week, the Supreme Court halted the execution of Keith Tharpe in Georgia because of a juror’s admission that he voted for death because he believed Tharpe was a “n----r.” It might be tempting to believe this case was just an anomaly. But Keith Tharpe is far from the only defendant to be sentenced to death by a deeply racist juror.... Read More →

Keith Tharpe is not an anomaly. Lots of death row inmates have been called at “n___r” at their trials.

October 4, 2017 · Kristin Collins

Keith Tharpe death penalty Georgia
Keith Tharpe death penalty Georgia

Last week, the Supreme Court halted the execution of Keith Tharpe in Georgia because of a juror’s admission that he voted for death because he believed Tharpe was a “n—-r.” It might be tempting to believe this case was just an anomaly. But Keith Tharpe is far from the only defendant to be sentenced to death by a deeply racist juror…. Read More →

Filed Under: Latest News, Racial Bias, Racial Justice Act

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The Latest via Twitter

Day 2 of an important hearing in KS. Focus on systemic racism and jury selection for death penalty trials. Thanks @brianwstull for keeping us posted #RacistRoots twitter.com/brianwst…

About 9 hours ago

Creating a new vision of justice starts with a new vision of safety! twitter.com/Emancipa…

About a day ago

Curious about this approach. What would you share?Want to help The N&O deepen criminal justice reporting? Share tips here. newsobserver.com/new…

About 4 days ago

Discrimination is not an accident. Prosecutors are trained for it. Follow the link for details on how to attend or watch this case before our state's highest court on Feb 8. #RacistRoots #NCDeathPenalty #CooperCommute twitter.com/RDunhamD…

About 4 days ago

RT @Kelan_Lyons They packed the courtroom early, filling so many seats that a line stretched out the door. In the past, many of the onlookers had been in handcuffs, jails and prison cells. Now, they wanted access to the ballot box A @NCPolicyWatch/@boltsmag collaboration ncpolicywatch.com/20…

About 4 days ago

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