july 2018 bar bulletin
By Thomas M. O’Toole and Taki V. Flevaris
In April, the Washington Supreme Court adopted GR 37, which is a new general rule that changes how racial bias in jury selection is addressed.1 The rule is designed to provide courts with guidance for effectively eliminating racial bias in the use of peremptory strikes. The purpose of this article is to explain GR 37 and what it means for litigators and judges in Washington courts.
What is the rule and how does it change the jury selection process?
GR 37 outlines a process for handling concerns about racial bias in the use of...