Courtwatching in Champaign County

At Urbana Rotary today, Tina Gunsales (pictured at right) and Steve Beckett gave a presentation about a fascinating program - the UI Law School Courtwatching program.

It is now clear that unwatched courts can lead to poor advocacy, poor decisions and even at the worst, corruption.  For many years the League of Women Voters of Champaign County  (LWVCC) has organized a courtwatching program to assure the citizenry that its courts are functioning properly and with all necessary resources. For over 15 years, the LWVCC has partnered with the University of Illinois College of Law to provide a constant presence in the state and federal courts in Champaign County.

Each of the students enrolled in the Trial Advocacy course at the College of Law (approximately 130 students in the Fall 2004 semester) is required to spend 12 hours courtwatching for educational purposes related to their enrollment in the course, with the League providing training for the law students. This Report on the 2004-2005 Pilot Phase of the Champaign County Courtwatching Project summarizes the primary findings of the pilot phase of this initiative.

They've looked at their data, done some statistical analysis, and compiled some reports about our court system.  (You can download the reports for 2004 and 2005.)

The program has produced some interesting findings, some of which have recieved substantial local publicity:

1. In the sample size observed during the pilot project, the statistical analysis shows no evidence of bias in the selection of jurors from among those available in the jury pool.

2. In the overwhelming majority of observations, our courtrooms were perceived as places where judges and other participants in proceedings observed decorum and treated one another with respect.

3. There is a significant discrepancy between the demographics of Champaign County and the demographics of those citizens reporting for jury service.

For example, while census data indicate an 11% African-American population for Champaign County, and a 15% African-American population for the cities of Champaign and Urbana, the observed African-American representation in the jury pools at the Champaign County Courthouse is about 6%.

This means, for example, of 17 observed jury trials in the pilot observation period in which the defendants were African-American men, only 4 African-American men and 10 African-American women jurors (out of 252 jurors and alternates for each jury) were seated. Nine other African-American potential jurors were excused in the jury selection of those trials.

They're looking for volunteers who are interested in being trained as courtwatchers.  For more information, please contact League of Women Voters Justice Committee Chair Joan A. Miller.