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

May 6, 2020

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 from criminal trials 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.

But the reality has been that, despite exhaustive studies proving that jury discrimination is a statewide problem, judges across North Carolina have not acknowledged the problem and have often dismissed allegations of jury discrimination out of hand. In this 6-1 decision, the Supreme Court has signaled that era might be coming to a long-overdue end.

For all the details about the decision and what it means, read CDPL’s press release.

—May 6, 2020

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

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NCCADP
3326 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd.
Building D, Suite 201
Durham, NC 27707
noel@nccadp.org
919-404-7409

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We need you! Every Monday, a small but mighty grou We need you! Every Monday, a small but mighty group gathers outside Central Prison in Raleigh to say: We will not look away. We will not be silent. We oppose the death penalty in North Carolina. 

Join the vigil, raise your voice, and be in solidarity with every person sentenced to death in our state.

🗓️ Every Monday, rain or shine
🕔 5–6 PM (March–November) | 4–5 PM (November–March)
📍 Central Prison, Raleigh

All are welcome. No RSVP required. Come as you are, bring a sign or borrow one, and make your voice heard.

NCCADP's coalition partners, Catholics for Abolition in NC and Amnesty International Local Group 213, have faithfully attended and led this vigil for years. Our team will be joining the vigil on Monday, July 28. We can't wait to see you there.
Capital punishment makes no economic sense. In a Capital punishment makes no economic sense.

In a review of cases from 2005 and 2006, the last two years in which there were executions in North Carolina, researchers found that eliminating the death penalty could have saved the state close to $22 million during that 2-year period alone.
19 years ago, North Carolina executed Samuel Flipp 19 years ago, North Carolina executed Samuel Flippen. He was the last person to be executed by the state. 

19 years without executions. Let's make it forever.

#NoMoreDeathRow #EndTheDeathPenalty #19YearsWithout
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