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Sunday, May 31, 2007
By Suzette Hackney

A consortium of legal professionals, civil rights activists and religious leaders has joined to promote change in Michigan's judicial system.

Led by the Detroit Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the "And Justice for All" campaign offers solutions for what backers called a system that is ineffective for people who are poor, young or have physical disabilities.

They called Wednesday for the state Supreme Court and Legislature to help diversify jury pools, ensure accessibility for disabled people and integrate the body that oversees judicial conduct.

"One of the great concerns of our nation ... is that we can proclaim and claim justice for all," the Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit Branch NAACP, said in announcing the campaign. "But when you look at the state of Michigan, you will see that there is only justice for some."

Campaign objectives unveiled at Wayne State University's Law School include:

• A law change to allow former felons to serve as jurors.
• A program called Jury Sundays to encourage jury participation through partnerships with churches.
• New court rules to promote more effective legal representation for poor people.
• Division of counties into districts to get proportional representation on juries.
• Full compliance of courts with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

"Throughout Michigan, most courthouses are not accessible. Jury boxes are not accessible. Witness stands are not accessible," said attorney Richard Bernstein.

The group said Wayne County has been plagued with underrepresented jury pools since Detroit's Recorder's Court was abolished by the Legislature in 1997. According to the latest study by the National Center for State Courts, African Americans make up less than 12% of juries in Wayne County, though the county is about 40% black.

Leaders also said the lack of diversity on the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission, the disciplinary body that oversees more than 600 trial and appellate judges, is troubling.

"These are the judges of the judges," said Melvin Butch Hollowell, an NAACP attorney. "Right now, it's an all-white club."

Contact SUZETTE HACKNEY at 313-222-6614 or shackney@freepress.com.

Copyright © 2007 Detroit Free Press Inc.