Think Out Loud

Willamette University law graduates examine bias in jury selection

By Julie Sabatier (OPB)
May 24, 2021 8:39 p.m. Updated: May 25, 2021 9:49 p.m.

Broadcast: Tuesday, May 25

The jury room at the Multnomah County Courthouse in downtown Portland, photographed on Jan. 25, 2021.

The jury room at the Multnomah County Courthouse in downtown Portland, photographed on Jan. 25, 2021.

Courtney Sherwood / OPB

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Recent graduates from Willamette University College of Law formed a racial justice task force to examine a tool attorneys use during jury selection. A peremptory challenge can be used by lawyers to remove jurors without having to state a reason. Oregon’s policy around this legal tool needs to be changed or dropped completely, according to the task force’s report. We hear from Willamette graduates and racial justice task force co-chairs Sam Klausen and Eden Vasquez.

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