Author Question: Describe the jury system in Texas. Include the types of juries, their duties, and how jurors are ... (Read 64 times)

karlynnae · **on:** Jul 8, 2018

Describe the jury system in Texas. Include the types of juries, their duties, and how jurors are selected.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Minorities historically have been underrepresented on Texas's state courts. What factors account for this? How did LULAC and other minority groups try to address the situation through litigation? Were they successful?

What will be an ideal response?

Mollythedog · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 8, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Explain the role of 12-person grand juries in reviewing evidence presented by prosecutors to determine if an individual should be indicted on a criminal charge.
2. Explain the role of petit juries in hearing evidence from both parties in a trial and making a determination.
3. Explain that members of grand juries are selected by district judges.
4. Explain that attorneys for both sides in cases get to screen potential jurors for petit juries and are able to eliminate some individuals.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: An ideal response will:
1. Identify the system of judicial elections as the main obstacle to minority representation.
2. Explain that elections are conducted statewide or countywide, that there is a shortage of minority candidates because there is a shortage of minority attorneys, that elections are costly, and that voting can be polarized along ethnic lines.
3. Explain that LULAC argued that countywide elections violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting minority voting strength and asked that the state be required to elect judges from geographic districts within urban counties.
4. Explain that the courts, ultimately the U.S. Supreme Court, upheld Texas's system, so the challenge by the minorities was unsuccessful.