In Washington State a potential juror’s stated distrust of police is deemed a presumptively invalid reason to removehim/her/ them from sitting on a jury ‘for cause.’ This principle is codified in General Rule 37, which was adopted byWashington’s State Supreme Court in 2018. It is the first of its kind in the nation and applies to both civil andcriminal trials. The rule lists seven presumptively invalid reasons for striking a juror for cause, including expressinga distrust of law enforcement or a belief that officers engage in racial profiling, whenever an objective observer couldview race or ethnicity as a factor in the strike of that person.
Voters didn’t vote this into law; the high court justices just established it as part of our legal system carte blanche. Isthat fair? Should the high court have such a power to determine who sits on a jury panel? Should trial courts beobligated to simply look past noted prejudices and biases? Is it scary that someone who clearly identifiesthemselves as biased is not presumptively considered unworthy to sit on a jury who decides one’s fate? All goodquestions with potential answers that are ‘presumptively’ irrelevant because, as they say … the law is the law, atleast for now.
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Criminal Defense Attorney
is not going to judge you and understands that everyone makesmistakes. Hiring a Seattle Criminal Defense Lawyer to help can – at a minimum – reduce penalties and can helpdirect people on how to best deal with their criminal charge, and sometimes even get them dismissed. So, it shouldgo without saying that someone cited for a crime should hire a qualified Seattle Criminal Lawyer as soon aspossible. Criminal charges can cause havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with acriminal case in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a seasoned Seattle Criminal Lawyer.SQ Attorneys can be reached at (425) 998-8DUI and (206) 441-0900.