California’s AB3070 promises to address discrimination in jury selection

Sacramento State Capitol building on Capitol Way. Photo Credit: Jason Doiy/ALM as reported by The Recorder, 6/16/20.

Sacramento State Capitol building on Capitol Way. Photo Credit: Jason Doiy/ALM as reported by The Recorder, 6/16/20.

AB3070 easily passed the California State Assembly this month. The legislation targets the discriminatory use of peremptory challenges in jury selection.

Cheryl Miller for The Recorder explains, “The measure would bar the use of peremptory challenges to remove potential jurors on the basis of race, ethnicity, and gender. The bill would require attorneys trying to strike a would-be juror to show by clear and convincing evidence that their rationale is not related to the person’s group identity. Appellate courts would be required to review the strikes de novo.”

The next step for the bill is a policy committee hearing in the California Senate.