LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – Today, there are new developments in the case of Jefferson County Judge Olu Stevens.
Stevens came under fire for dismissing juries he claimed did not have enough African-American members in cases involving Black defendants.
The county commonwealth’s attorney objected to Judge Stevens’ decisions, which sparked a social media firestorm.
A Commonwealth Court of Appeal ruling today said Judge Stevens did not follow state law dismissing the jury in the case of Charles Evans.
The decision said while the law requires a jury pool represent a cross-section of the community, the jury panel itself is not required to reflect the community.
The Court of Appeals said the Evans case did not meet the burden of the law.
The ruling orders Judge Olu not to dismiss any future jury panels unless the decision is consistent with state law.
