WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that courts must make an exception to the usual rule that jury deliberations are secret when evidence emerges that those discussions were marred by racial or ethnic bias. “The nation must continue to make strides to overcome race-based discrimination,” Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the majority. 15-606, arose from statements made during jury deliberations in a 2010 sexual assault trial. The jury deadlocked on the most serious charge, a felony, but it convicted Mr. Peña Rodriguez of three misdemeanors. Advertisement Continue reading the main storyThe Supreme Court case required the justices to choose between keeping jury deliberations secret and the Sixth Amendment’s guarantee of an impartial jury.

Source: New York Times March 06, 2017 15:33 UTC