North Carolina judge reduces three death sentences over racial bias

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(Guardian UK) A judge in North Carolina has commuted the death sentences of three convicted killers having heard evidence that prosecutors in their original trials had consciously prevented black people from sitting on the juries.

Judge Gregory Weeks, who sits on the superior court of Cumberland County around Fayetteville, delivered a withering ruling in which he was scathing of a prosecutorial system that he said displayed "racial consciousness and race-based decision making".

The judge commuted the three prisoners' sentences to life imprisonment without parole, having been convinced by "powerful and persuasive evidence" that the state had distorted the composition of juries to render them overwhelmingly white.

"The court finds no joy in these conclusions. Indeed, the court cannot overstate the gravity and somber nature of its findings. Nor can the court overstate the harm to African American citizens and to the integrity of the justice system that results from racially discriminatory jury selection practices," Weeks said. ....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/13/north-carolina-judge-reduces-death-sentences

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