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The role of race in criminal trials

On Behalf of | Aug 5, 2020 | Uncategorized |

In 2020, the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police led to an unprecedented number of protests across the United States. Black Lives Matter has been an important political movement in the United States since at least 2017. As much as people in Georgia and around the country have focused on police violence, pressing racial issues in the rest of the criminal justice system. In the United States, as many as 95% of prosecutors are white. Trial judges in many states are up to 80% white.

This racial disparity in the courtroom is keenly felt by minorities who are ordered to appear in court. Some legal scholars go so far as to say that the racial makeup of the justice system undermines its claims to be fair. When people don’t see themselves reflected in a power structure, they struggle to see it as a legitimate entity. Some people have argued that these disparities have been baked into the U.S. justice system from the beginning.

Another area that critics of the justice system have started to look at is law school. The statistics show that people of color are much more likely to drop out of law school than white students. There have been calls to look at law school environments and make them more comfortable for students of color.

For people who’ve been accused of crimes, it’s important to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney. When a system is badly skewed, an attorney is responsible for knowing how the system works and how to get justice for their clients. It may be helpful to find legal representation to negotiate for the best possible outcome.

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