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‘The Jim Crow Convictions’: The History And Impact Of Non-Unanimous Jury Decisions

Brandon Jackson's case is the subject of a new documentary from Al Jazeera's "Fault Lines."
Brandon Jackson's case is the subject of a new documentary from Al Jazeera's "Fault Lines."

Non-unanimous jury convictions are no longer constitutional according to a 2020 Supreme Court ruling. But earlier this year, the court decided the decision does not automatically apply retroactively to old cases.

That’s why more than 1,500 people in Louisiana are still imprisoned on non-unanimous verdicts — a law that originated in the Jim Crow era to “reestablish the supremacy of the white race.” 

This includes the case of Brandon Jackson.

From Al Jazeera:

We talk about Jackson’s case and the lasting impact of Jim Crow laws in Louisiana.

Copyright 2021 WAMU 88.5

Kathryn Fink
Kathryn Fink is a producer with NPR's All Things Considered.