By Rick Pluta, Michigan Public Radio Network
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkar/local-wkar-996119.mp3
LANSING, MI –
The Michigan Supreme Court will hear a case Tuesday where an African-American man claims he was denied a fair trial because of a computer error. As we hear from Michigan Public Radio's Rick Pluta, the error caused fewer jury notices to go to households in African-American neighborhoods.
Ramon Bryant is challenging his convictions on charges of criminal sexual conduct, stealing $90, and possession of marijuana. Bryant says he was denied a trial before a jury of his peers that is guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment.
The question is whether the unintentional exclusion of African-Americans from the jury pool entitles Bryant to a new trial with a new jury. A computer error caused fewer jury notices to be sent to Zip Codes in Kent County with higher minority populations.
The prosecutor says the mistake was accidental -- there was no intentional design to exclude African Americans from the jury pool, and there are other explanations as to why so few African Americans reported for jury duty. Bryant says it makes no difference whether the mistake was intentional.