On Wednesday, a state appeals court in New Orleans ruled that a non-unanimous conviction should be overturned. On the same day, an appeals court in Lake Charles ruled that another split-jury verdict was valid.
Tag: Split-jury verdicts
Posted inCriminal Justice
‘In other words, nothing has been accomplished today’: No decision on new trial in Bossier split-jury case
Brandon Jackson was convicted of armed robbery by a 10-2 jury in 1997. Split verdicts are no longer legal. But his conviction, and those for hundreds more, is still considered valid.
Posted inCriminal Justice
A ‘Jim Crow jury’ prisoner fights for freedom
Brandon Jackson is one of more than 1,500 people still incarcerated in Louisiana on non-unanimous verdicts, though the United States Supreme Court ruled split verdicts unconstitutional last year. Will he get a chance at freedom?
Posted inCriminal Justice
Legislature creates task force to consider relief for people still in prison on non-unanimous jury convictions
Lawmaker says the group will aim to find ways to identify cases where defendants were convicted wrongfully as a result of problems in their cases beyond split decisions, such as weak evidence, misconduct or discrimination.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Bill to give new trials to people convicted by split juries dies in committee
The bill, which would have given new trials or a shot at parole to 1,500 people in prison, was opposed by the Louisiana District Attorneys Association.
Posted inCriminal Justice
‘The only hope they may have’: After Supreme Court decision, a bill to address non-unanimous jury convictions to be heard at the legislature on Thursday
The bill is opposed by the Louisiana District Attorneys Association.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Supreme Court declines to apply split-jury ban retroactively
More than 1,000 Louisiana prisoners not covered by a previous decision were convicted by split juries. Advocates are now urging the state to act to overturn old non-unanimous verdicts.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Bill to provide relief to people still in prison with non-unanimous jury verdicts deferred pending Supreme Court decision
Advocates are pushing to have the bill passed regardless of the ruling
Posted inCriminal Justice
Group has filed more than 1,000 post-conviction relief applications challenging non-unanimous jury verdicts since Supreme Court ruling
This week will mark one year since the Supreme Court ruled that non-unanimous jury verdicts were unconstitutional. For about 1,500 Louisiana prisoners, that means a legal deadline is fast approaching.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Defendants whose non-unanimous convictions were tossed take plea deals on lesser charges
More than a dozen people appeared in court on Wednesday after making deals with the Orleans Parish DA’s office. Many are now set to go free immediately.