The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana Executive Director Marjorie Esman issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision not to hear a challenge to non-unanimous jury convictions. Only Louisiana and Oregon allow verdicts by less than a unanimous vote of the jury in noncapital cases.
"Louisiana’s non-unanimous jury rule is a vestige of white supremacy that has worked exactly as designed: making it easier to send innocent Black people to prison for crimes they did not commit. We’re disappointed that the Supreme Court declined to take this case, but more determined than ever to end this unjust and harmful practice. No one should be imprisoned based on the dubious verdict of jurors who couldn’t agree among themselves on guilt or innocence. Louisiana’s Constitution originally required all jurors to convict. That right to unanimity must be restored to ensure justice for all Louisianians.”
