Shocking: 11 white people, 1 black man chosen for jury in Michael Slager murder trial

[tenderfoot]

After seating a mostly white jury to decide whether a former North Charleston police officer committed a crime when he shot Walter Scott early Wednesday morning, Circuit Judge Clifton Newman spent the rest of the day hearing motions on dismissing the charges, moving the trial out of Charleston, and several others.

Scott’s death and a video of his killing last year came amid nationwide scrutiny of police killings, particularly those targeting black men like Scott. The movement was punctuated with chants of “black lives matter.”

The jury of 11 white people and one black man will return at 9 a.m. Thursday to the county courthouse in downtown Charleston, where opening statements in former policeman Michael Slager’s murder trial will likely follow. Two-thirds of the six alternates also are white.

<snip>

Seven of the nine people that Savage struck from the jury were minorities, including as many as two Hispanic people. The rest were black.

Wilson dismissed three white people.

The primary panel of a dozen members was chosen: six white men, five white women and one black man. Then, six alternates were selected: two white men, two white women and two black women.

more: http://www.aikenstandard.com/news/whites-one-black-chosen-for-jury-in-slager-murder-trial/article_6d0d8a20-a11f-11e6-8574-c75d9cde65e6.html

This turd will walk for sure...

[Taitertots]

1. The racial bias in display here is shocking

What you're really saying is that white people cant be trusted on juries when the defendant is white. It's blatant racism.

[kristopher]

2. Seven of nine people Defense struck from the jury were minorities.

What a silly thing to do, eh? A jury balanced racially to represent the community would have had 4 black jurors.

I suppose the defense attorney thought only whites could be trusted for this white murderer.

[Upin]

3. Do you think juries should always represent race by proportion?

How many degrees of disparity would you allow?

Each side gets their input into who makes the cut so what would you change or mandate?

[msanthrope]

4. The defense is under no obligation to attempt racial parity.

When I chose juries, I often chose people like whatever defendant I had, looking for similar backgrounds and experiences.

[kristopher]

5. Understand BAU and the underpinnings

I was responding with (IMO) a mild rebuke to a person that is obviously tone deaf about the racial overtones.

[Taitertots]

6. This is just your prejudice on display

"I suppose"
Nothing no supports your assertions. It's all just your prejudice and bias.

[kristopher]

7. The census data supports the only assertion I made.

As to the opinions, well, opinions are based on values. My opinion is that the police can't be given a fair trail in that within my set of values, the victim is also part of the "fair trail" calculus. James Crow is one long lived POS.

[Taitertots]

8. Your assertion was the attribution of motive to the defense.

Which is based exclusively on prejudice and bias.

"My opinion is that the police can't be given a fair trail in that within my set of values, the victim is also part of the "fair trail" calculus."
....When the jury is white.
Because your opinions are nothing but prejudice and bias.

[kristopher]

11. You are completely wrong.

The statical profile of lack of convictions in these cases over the past 30 years is crystal clear. The officer in this case is a cold blooded murderer, he deserves the most severe sanctions associated with that crime.

[Taitertots]

14. Lack of convictions implies knowledge about the correct number

You don't have this knowledge, so your opinion is based on nothing but prejudice and ignorance.

But let's get back to your assertions.
"I suppose the defense attorney thought only whites could be trusted for this white murderer."
What evidence to you have to support this claim? All I see is prejudice and bias.

[kristopher]

16. .

The statistical profile of lack of convictions in these cases over the past 30 years is crystal clear. The officer in this case is a cold blooded murderer, he deserves the most severe sanctions associated with that crime.

[geek tragedy]

15. when the defendant is a white cop and the victim is black, there's a long, sordid

history of white juries acquitting, or refusing to even issue an indictment.

[dembotoz]

9. defense lawyer doing his job

[tenderfoot]

10. You certainly seem pleased about it.

Have the Champagne on ice waiting in anticipation.

[EX500rider]

12. "You certainly seem pleased about it." You a remote mind reader or what?

Stating that the defense lawyer was doing his/her job seems emotionally neutral to me.

[geek tragedy]

13. So, acquittal or hung jury?

No way you get 11 white South Carolinians to convict a white cop of shooting a black man.