Blog Topic

"Racism in the Jury Box"
Posted by: Kevin Costello
January 25, 2008

Here's another in the never ending list of stories we as civil rights attorneys have to tell, in order to bang through the heads of Americans to get them to understand that racism is still ALIVE AND WELL in the USA. Of course, it's alive and well all over, but aren't there places we all expect it NOT to be? Places where, as objectionable as racism is on general principles, it's especially not ok for it to exist?

How about in the JURY ROOM in a lawsuit, where a jury is called upon to deliver JUSTICE, in a FAIR and EVEN HANDED WAY?

Take a look at this story from Seattle, perceived as a "liberal" leaning city:

"Alleged racial comments made by jurors during deliberations in a medical negligence case have prompted a Spokane, Wash. plaintiff attorney to seek a new trial. Attorney Mark D. Kamitomo asked for a new trial after learning from two jurors that a number of their fellow jurors allegedly referred to Kamitomo as "Mr. Kamikaze," "Mr. Miyashi" and "Mr. Miyagi," behind closed doors. A judge is scheduled to hear Kamitomo's motion for a new trial on Jan. 25. AP, Seattle Times 01/15/2008"

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