Mumia Abu-Jamal

Von: "MUMIA ABU-JAMAL" <>

Betreff: !*NAACP Legal Defense Fund

Files Brief Supporting

Mumia Abu-Jamal!

Datum: Sonntag, 8. März 2009 23:44

 

March 5th, 2009

 

 

NAACP Legal Defense Fund Files Brief in

Supreme Court in Mumia Abu-Jamal Case

 

 

(New York, NY)- Today the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

(LDF) filed a friend of the court brief in support of Mumia Abu-

Jamal's claim of racial discrimination in the selection of the jury

for his 1981 death penalty trial. LDF's brief supports Mr. Abu-

Jamal's request for United States Supreme Court review of his appeal

urging enforcement of the laws that require courts to promptly

investigate evidence of discrimination against African American

prospective jurors.

 

Specifically, LDF objects to the United States Court of Appeals for

the Third Circuit's use of a restrictive interpretation of Batson v.

Kentucky, a Supreme Court decision prohibiting prosecutors from

excluding prospective jurors on the basis of race, to conclude that

Mr. Abu-Jamal failed to present sufficient evidence to support his

claim of racial discrimination in jury selection. LDF's brief

explains that the Third Circuit's conclusion that the only way to

prove that racial discrimination infected the jury selection process

is to document the race of all members from the panel of prospective

jurors and the race of all stricken jurors ignores other significant

indicators of discrimination in jury selection and contradicts the

Supreme Court's command that courts examine a wide array of evidence

to properly ferret out discrimination in jury selection.

 

As applied to Mr. Abu-Jamal's case, the Third Circuit decision means

that the trial prosecutor's pattern of strikes against African-

American prospective jurors, a culture of discrimination in the

prosecutor's office (including a videotaped training advocating the

exclusion of prospective jurors of color), a comprehensive statistical

study documenting a pattern of exclusion of prospective jurors of

color by the prosecutor's office and other such evidence is

insufficient to suggest discrimination. LDF's brief explains that

turning a blind eye to such credible evidence of discrimination not

only conflicts with the law but also undermines public confidence in

integrity of the courts.

 

"We believe that the Third Circuit's interpretation of the law will

have the effect of shielding discrimination and undermining the rights

of criminal and capital defendants to a fair trial. It is our hope

that the Supreme Court will accept and review Mr. Abu-Jamal's case to

make sure that courts respond promptly and appropriately when

confronted with real questions about the existence of racial

discrimination in jury selection," said John Payton, LDF President and

Director-Counsel.

 

 

 

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ABOUT LDF

 

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF) is America's legal

counsel on issues of race. Through advocacy and litigation, LDF

focuses on issues of education, voter protection, economic justice and

criminal justice. We encourage students to embark on careers in the

public interest through scholarships and internship programs. LDF

pursues racial justice to move our nation toward a society that

fulfills the promise of equality for all.

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