A Jury of His Peers

This image was a very interesting and challenging piece to create. The jury is comprised of plaintiffs In a civil rights case involving an employer that, after winning a government contract by out bidding the employer of the men shown, proceeded to release all the Black supervisors while retaining the Caucasian ones. The case went to trial and much to the surprise of the plaintiffs and their attorneys, an all white jury was empanelled. This trial was held in the south and the rules for jury selection left the plaintiffs with no option or grounds for objection. The plaintiffs lost.

The absurdity of a racially monotonous jury, in a civil rights case is obvious. A distribution of ethnicity’s more closely matched to those found in our society would make a more viable jury. This was only a civil trial but nevertheless, lives were affected.

An even more serious situation occurs when the charges are criminal and the potential penalty severe. In that case, a Black defendant may pay the ultimate price because he or she got a bigoted jury. This has happened many times with a white jury and a black defendant. The promise is a jury of peers; the reality in some cases falls far short of the ideal.

The men empanelled as the jury in this image, are all educated, experienced, articulate professionals with extraordinary credentials. Most are as experienced and qualified as those who replaced them.

The jury shown would, I am sure, render a fair and honest verdict on the facts presented and without racial factors being given any weight. That fact not withstanding, if you were the defendant, (a somewhat skin-headed white man accused perhaps of a racially charged crime.), and didn’t know the character of these men, would you feel CERTAIN that justice would be done?

Would you bet your life on it?

The defendant in this image is a model and was not involved in the case, nor was he accused of any crime.

The chances are that if you are a Caucasian, you will never have to concern yourself with this situation should find yourself on trial. Black jurors represent a small fraction of the jury pool, but frequently, Black men and women must face the reverse of this situation with their freedom or even their life in the balance.

Do you think that allowing racially monotonous juries not aligned with a defendant’s race is acceptable? What is guaranteed with the words “ a jury of your peers”?