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How the legal system can move from procedural compliance to true inclusion and equal representation in the jury box.
This Black History Month, take a hard look at the history, ethics, and future of jury selection. Explore how bias, access, and inclusion shape who gets to sit — and who gets left out — in the pursuit of justice.
This course examines the historical and legal evolution of jury selection in the United States, focusing on the ongoing struggle to ensure fair representation and equal protection under the law. It explores the transition from explicit racial exclusion to structural barriers and the subsequent development of constitutional safeguards against discriminatory peremptory challenges.
The content addresses the practical challenges trial and appellate courts face in policing bias, the limitations of the current legal framework, and the necessity of maintaining public confidence in the jury system. By reviewing landmark cases and contemporary judicial findings, the material highlights the persistent gap between the ideal of colorblind justice and the reality of systemic disparities in the courtroom.
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The NYS Academy of Trial Lawyers is the largest statewide trial bar in the US with 5,700+ lawyer and judge members. We are committed to protecting, preserving and enhancing the civil justice system. Our highly acclaimed CLE programming features extraordinary presenters covering the most timely and important topics.
Associate Justice at the New York State Supreme Court
The Honorable Cheryl E. Chambers serves as an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division, Second Department, of the New York State Supreme Court. Appointed in 2008, she became only the second woman of color appointed to any Appellate Division in NY and is the first African American woman to serve in a senior role on that court. Before joining the bench, she served as an Assistant District Attorney in Kings County, working in both the Trial and Appeals Bureaus. She rose to become Deputy Chief of the Trial Division, supervising felony prosecutions and mentoring trial attorneys, and later served as Chief of the Domestic Violence Bureau. Justice Chambers is a frequent lecturer and author on criminal law, appellate practice, and jury selection, including authoring a chapter on jury selection in Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts (5th ed.), edited by Robert Haig. She brings both trial and appellate experience to today's discussion and a deep commitment to ensuring that our jury system reflects fairness, inclusion, and the full participation of our communities.
Associate Judge at the New York State Court of Appeals
The Honorable Shirley Troutman currently serves as an Associate Judge of the New York State Court of Appeals. After earning her JD from Albany Law School, she began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Erie County, then served as an Assistant Attorney General and as an Assistant United States Attorney. Judge Troutman first joined the bench in 1994 when she was appointed to serve as a judge for the Buffalo City Court. In 2002, she was elected to the Erie County Court, where she served until her election to New York State Supreme Court in 2009. In 2016, she was designated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to serve on the Appellate Division, Fourth Department. In November of 2021, Judge Troutman was nominated by Gov. Kathy Hochul to serve on the New York State Court of Appeals. She currently is co-chair of the Franklin H. Williams Judicial Commission and has served as National Association of Women Judges New York Chapter President, a member of the Advisory Committee on Judicial Ethics, and a member of the Ethics Commission of the NYS Unified Court System.