According to the Courier-Journal, Jefferson Circuit Judge Olu Stevens dismissed the jury members despite concerns from both the defense and the prosecutor.
However, this isn’t the first time Stevens has all-white jury and repeated the aforementioned actions. In an unrelated case, at the request of a concerned defense attorney, he dismissed an all-white 13-member jury trying a theft case of a African-American.
“There is not a single African American on this jury, and [the defendant] is an African-American man,” Stevens said to a jury on a courtroom recording. “I cannot in good conscience go forward with this jury.”
Courier-Journal noted that a new jury was called in the following day and there were four black members this time around.
Now, after inquires about Stevens actions by the Jefferson County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office and attorney general, the Kentucky Supreme Court is in the process of deciding whether the jury dismissals based on race abused his authority as a judge.
A secretary for Stevens told the newspaper that he had no comment.
What do you think? Was Stevens’ actions justified or did he abuse his authority?
Article Appeared @http://madamenoire.com/596081/kentucky-judge-dismisses-jury-due-to-lack-of-black-representation/