S. Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, in delivering the opinion on Smith v. Texas (1940), wrote:It is part of the established tradition in the use of juries as instruments of public justice that the jury be a body truly representative of the community. For racial discrimination to result in the exclusion from jury service of otherwise qualified groups not only violates our Constitituon and the laws encacted under it, but is at war with our basic concepts of a democratic society and a representative government.Take a position. Does the process of jury selection help build fair and impartial juries that are representative of the population in which the trial is occurring?The Jury Selection Process Helps Ensure a Fair TrialThen, using the information gained in this module and the resources noted above, make your case. How does the jury selection process help or hinder the selection of a representative jury? Does this system help ensure justice and the final outcome of a fair trial? Why or why not? Be sure to build your case with factual resources.Smith v. Texas, 311
