Working to Protect Accessible and Representative Juries in Alameda County Misdemeanor Trials

BayLegal has submitted a letter urging that the Alameda County Superior Court reconsider its plan to eliminate local jury panels and to institute county-wide jury pools for misdemeanor trials. Traveling across-county to serve on a jury would be a tremendous hardship for low-income people, particularly those with disabilities and during the pandemic. Our clients’ decreased participation on juries would also deny many misdemeanor criminal defendants juries reflective of their communities, and would have a disparate impact on low-income communities of color.

Read the full letter here.