11/02/2022
Public Defender’s Office Hosts Panel Discussion on Jury Diversity
Baton Rouge, Louisiana - The East Baton Rouge Office of the Public Defender announces the launch of its Know Your Rights series focusing on jury diversity. The event is open to the community and will feature Chief Lisa Parker, Judge William Jorden and Judge Donald Johnson. The moderator of the event will be William Snowden, Founder of the Juror Project.
WHAT: Know Your Rights: Jury Diversity
An in-person panel discussion about the importance of jury diversity in Baton Rouge. Panelists include:
Chief Lisa Parker, Baton Rouge Public Defender
Honorable Judge William Jorden
Honorable Judge Donald Johnson
William Snowden, Founder of The Juror Project
WHERE: Beacon Light Baptist Church - 7513 Prescott Road E. BR, LA 70812
WHEN: Saturday, November 5, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.
WHO: The media and the community is invited and encouraged to attend.
Diverse juries are imperative to ensure defendants and the public that the criminal justice system is impartial and fair. All US citizens have the right to a fair trial and the right to a jury consisting of their peers. Without juror diversity, these rights are only given to the majority. Racial disparities in the justice system disproportionately affect blacks. Inclusion of diverse jurors increases the likelihood that evidence presented at trial will be evaluated and assessed from multiple perspectives giving everyone a fair chance at justice.
About the Office of the Public Defender
The East Baton Rouge Office of the Public Defender exists to provide the citizens of East Baton Rouge Parish with high quality, client-focused legal representation in the 19th Judicial District’s criminal and juvenile justice system. Our mission is to create a client-centered, community oriented defender office founded on the pursuit of equal justice and zealous representation for the indigent community of Baton Rouge. www.opdbr.org