Contact Your House Representative to Support Unanimous Juries!

News Intro Text

[May 9, 2018]

Date

Tue, 05/08/2018 - 20:00

News Item Content

As you may know, Louisiana is one of only two states in the country where someone can be convicted of a felony “beyond a reasonable doubt,” even if up to two jurors vote to acquit. (See the <a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/courts/article_85b28154-3492-11e8-bfd2-07fee9f093d2.html&source=gmail&ust=1525978756638000&usg=AFQjCNFIa9oFDCHTl9H3gW0ZJwJZUpKWFA" href="http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/courts/article_85b28154-3492-11e8-bfd2-07fee9f093d2.html" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;" target="_blank">excellent reporting on non-unanimous juries by The Advocate</a>.) Examination of historical evidence shows that Louisiana’s non-unanimous jury law was intended by white supremacists to weaken the influence of black voters in jury trials. Louisiana’s split-verdict law is one reason why Louisiana incarcerates more of its citizens per capita than any other state. 
 
<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s%3D18RS%26b%3DSB243%26sbi%3Dy&source=gmail&ust=1525978756638000&usg=AFQjCNEwRUMK4WpXdzE-1Vkh7CV2M2D3fQ" href="http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=18RS&b=SB243&sbi=y" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;" target="_blank">SB 243</a>, by Senator Try Carter, seeks to change this historic wrong by proposing a constitutional amendment to require unanimous juries for felony convictions in Louisiana. SB 243 is scheduled for a debate and vote on the House floor this <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1536536874" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;" tabindex="0">Friday, May 11. Because it is a constitutional amendment, it will need a two-thirds majority to pass. 
 
Please call or email your state representative with this simple message: 
 
Hello. My name is _______ and I am your constituent residing at ________________. Please support SB 243, which proposes a constitutional amendment to end non-unanimous jury verdicts in Louisiana, when it comes up for vote on the House floor this Friday, May 11. Thank you for voting “yes” on SB 243. 
 
Click<a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&q=http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/FindMyLegislators.aspx&source=gmail&ust=1525978756638000&usg=AFQjCNEcRPnGTESVG0izKTG762B2ZvI3xQ" href="http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/FindMyLegislators.aspx" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;" target="_blank"> here</a> for the name, phone number, and email of your state representative: 
Please share this message widely and help make historic change happen! 
  
UPDATE: SB 269, which would have expanded parole eligibility, failed on the Senate floor by a vote of 11-24. 
 
UPDATE: HB 265, which would restore voting rights to persons on probation and parole after five years, was not passed even though it had more yes than no votes - it had 51 yes votes but needed 53 yes votes to achieve a majority of House votes. It will be heard again on the House floor this <span class="aBn" data-term="goog_1536536876" style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(204, 204, 204); position: relative; top: -2px; z-index: 0; font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333px;" tabindex="0">Thursday, May 10. Please also call/email your state representative to support HB 265. 
  
Thank you!