Court Bias Report - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Court Bias Report

Is justice really blind?

That is what a commission set out to find regarding bias in the court system.

The Commission to Study Racial and Ethnic Bias in the Courts is presenting its final report to Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley... but they want it to be received by the North Dakota Supreme Court.

The 25-person committee of different professionals within the court system was created in 2009.

The committee addressed issues of bias and perceived bias.

"Any efforts to root out any kind of bias, we stand with you completely and everyone must." says Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley

District Judge Donovan Foughty says the study does not mean there is bias in the court system, but it's something to consider.

One issue he would like addressed is the disproportionate number of Native Americans in the prison system versus Native American members of the bar.

And an overall lack of race information in the courts.

"I would like to know that when I'm having a jury trial, that the jury reflects the community as a whole, I would like to know that, sometimes I think we do make that goal, but I really don't know because we don't correct the right information, the right data." says Judge Donovan Foughty

You can read find the full report by visiting kxnet.com and search court bias.

<http://www.ndcourts.gov/court/committees/bias_commission/FinalReport2012.pdf