Jury selection is an arena of public life where racial discrimination is both commonplace and accepted. Judging Juries reveals the barriers to jury service that deprive defendants in criminal cases of true juries of their peers.
While there are many issues contributing to the lack of diversity in the jury pool, juror pay is at the top of the list. With minimal daily compensation that can be eaten up just by the commute to the courthouse, juries often end up composed of professionals who can afford to miss work, or retirees. An innovative program in San Francisco called "Be the Jury", which pays jurors $100 per day, has discovered that many more working people, and people of color are able to serve as a result of this increase in compensation, resulting in a juries more representative of the city.
In addition to the issue of juror pay, Judging Juries also looks at the use of discriminatory peremptory challenges which permit the dismissal of potential jurors for no stated reason, and the use of former felony convictions as a barrier to jury service. Featuring the testimonies of lawyers, judges, politicians, and jurors alike, Judging Juries highlights innovative legislation and programs that point to a future that respects the constitutional right to a fair trial.
"The importance of fairness and representation in the jury selection process cannot be emphasized enough, and, Judging Juries is a must-see film demonstrating the real implications of this. We have used it in Pennsylvania to educate judges, the legislature and citizens about the need for reasonable compensation for jurors and a diverse jury pool. This film is not just a learning tool, but an awakening for our understanding that jury service is both a privilege that strengthens democracy and a mandatory requirement under the law." — Deborah R. Gross, Esq., CEO and President, Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts
"Makes a convincing argument as to why diversity on juries is necessary as the disparity between white and African American convictions is eliminated when there is at least one African American on a jury... Recommended for existing political science and legal studies collections and those overall library collections looking for more inclusive conversations around civics education" — Educational Media Reviews Online
"Judging Juries is an excellent short documentary that will see frequent use in criminal justice coursework... A must-have for any collection serving a large and active law school... Judging Juries seeks to spark more action in this long-overlooked area of legal reform. Highly Recommended." — Video Librarian
"Eye-opening" — Christine Welch, League of Women Voters Berkeley Albany Emeryville
"A jury of one's peers is the cornerstone of the U.S. criminal legal system, but a new documentary by filmmaker Abby Ginzberg reveals that remains a rarity for many Black and brown people charged with a crime in Alameda County and beyond" — The East Bay Echo
"Offers a powerful argument for why we need changes in our laws to fully realize the promise of a fair jury for all." — Access to Justice Institute
Citation
Main credits
Ginzberg, Abby (film director)
Ginzberg, Abby (film producer)
Raju, Manu (on-screen participant)
Semel, Elisabeth (on-screen participant)
Skinner, Nancy (on-screen participant)
McSilver, Jim (film producer)
Other credits
Editor, Jim McSilver; director of photography, Vicente Franco.
