Study finding local jury disparity is released

September 7, 2008

The Abell Foundation released a long-anticipated study Friday comparing jury verdicts in Baltimore with those of three nearby counties. The report, by Shawn M. Flower of Choice Research Associates, found that jurors in the counties - Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Howard - are 30 times more likely than their city counterparts to convict a defendant of the most serious charge he or she faces. Flower studied jury outcome data from July 2005 to June 2006. In March, a draft of the study circulated to top Baltimore courthouse officials, including Administrative Judge Marcella A. Holland and State's Attorney Patricia C. Jessamy, who both expressed concerns about the author's recommendation that a regional jury pool be studied as a way to eliminate jury disparity. Jessamy asked that the report be "shelved." Last month, The Baltimore Sun obtained and wrote about a draft of the report; the official report appears to reach similar conclusions and make similar recommendations to those in the draft.

Julie Bykowicz

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Study finding local jury disparity is released

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