Word: juror
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1970-1979
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...questioning begins. The prosecutor, Garry, and Huggins' lawyer, Catherine Roraback of New Haven, probe the juror's attitudes-whether it is a deep-seated prejudice or an opinion formed by reading the evening paper-towards the case, the defendants, and the Panthers in general...
Unlike McLucas' lawyer, Garry and, to a lesser extent, Roraback play up the involvement of the Panthers in the case, and the trial's political nature. Garry even takes every opportunity to remind the juror of the connection, introducing himself time and time again as, "representing Mr. Seale, co-founder and chairman of the Black Panther Party...
Thus Garry and Roraback have established the jurors' opinions of the Panthers as issues in the selection. Opinions of police and black people in general as well as acquaintance with parties involved in the case are also issues. Once the defense lawyers or the prosecution has ascertained that the juror is prejudiced, they either use one of their peremptory challenges, or convince Judge Mulvey that he should be excused...
...defense took great care to examine each perspective juror to minimize racism on the jury," according to defense attorney Gerald Lefcourt. His questions centered on the racial and political beliefs of each prospect...
Through it all, the jurors remained calm and open-minded, particularly toward McLucas' own testimony. One juror told a reporter for the Hartford Courant: "It was McLucas' testimony that freed him, not his defense. He was a gentle man. He was as honest as the FBI and the New Haven police." During the long deliberations, what many had believed to be a small minority holding out for leniency turned out to have been the majority. Judge Mulvey's "dynamite charge" to the jurors after their fifth day of indecision, requesting the minority to reconsider the equally thoughtful...