Aboriginal Law Bulletin --- "White Jury Discharged" [1981] AboriginalLawB 22; (1981) 1(2) Aboriginal Law Bulletin 5

• White Jury Discharged

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White Jury Discharged

On 19 October 1981 an Aboriginal man, Richard Smith, was presented for trial in the Bourke District Court on a charge of receiving stolen goods. After the Crown. Prosecutor had challenged the three Aborigines on the jury panel, Judge Martin discharged the all-white jury and adjourned the case until 8 February 1982. The judge accepted that the Crown Prosecutor had the right to challenge the Aboriginies on the jury panel but told the court that justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done. Defence lawyer, Tony Parkerof the Aboriginal Legal Service later remarked that it was a common practice to challenge all potential Aboriginal jurors when the accused was an Aborigine.

(National Times 8.11.81)