That the judge is allowing a political litmus test which is entirely unrelated to the actual court case under consideration is a very bad sign.
The Karmelo Anthony Trial
Opinions, art, debate
Opinions, art, debate
That the judge is allowing a political litmus test which is entirely unrelated to the actual court case under consideration is a very bad sign.
Clarissa's Blog 
Although we’re politically simpatico, I don’t find allowing this type of inquiry unusual. In a 55 year career, I would often ask completely “off the wall” questions in voire dire, thus stimulating honest, not canned, responses. For example: ‘Do you have a pet at home?’ is a better way to assess a juror’s capacity for empathy, than conventionally “relevant” questions, which usually generate dull, rote, responses of no use to the litigator.
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This question is simply another way of asking, “Are you a Trump supporter?” This is very different than asking about pet ownership. I don’t think it would be allowed to ask directly about a person’s voting record. So this is a way to bypass that.
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You’re astute enough to draw that conclusion. It is, however, only one of many conclusions, depending on your frame, that can be implied by that question. Rather than mind read, and limit a litigant’s right to a fair trial by a “jury of his peers”, judges invariably allow broad leeway during voire dire. Nothing like the strict rules of evidence during the trial itself.
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this is a great proxy for “will you allow black people to get away with anything”
A.
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Let’s get ready for another great miscarriage of justice totally based on skin colour.
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Zero black people on the jury because the prospective black jurors honestly confessed that they will be unable to bring in a guilty verdict for a black defendant.
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Thank you Clarissa for this news: it really gladdens my heart.
Let’s hope for the best, even though things in America have gone so askew lately that I wouldn’t be surprised at anything.
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Not to be a Debbie Downer, but all it takes is one raging lib on the jury, and we’re cooked.
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