2 men released from Death Row in California sue Alameda County for $572M over jury selection
The suits say prosecutors excluded Black and Jewish jurors and seek about $572 million after years of unlawful incarceration.
- On Tuesday, Ernest Dykes filed a federal lawsuit against Alameda County alleging prosecutors rigged his 1995 jury by excluding the only Black prospective juror. Curtis Lee Ervin filed a similar suit on May 27.
- Evidence of systematic misconduct surfaced two years ago when prosecutors' notes revealed they used derogatory language to exclude Black and Jewish jurors. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria ruled in April 2024 this was strong evidence of a pattern of serious misconduct.
- Prosecutor Colton Carmine used a red pen to mark Black and Jewish jurors for elimination. Prosecutor James Anderson removed nine of 11 prospective Black jurors despite some ranking high on his 'Rambo scale' for death penalty support.
- District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson has withdrawn resentencing petitions, drawing criticism from defense attorneys who argue the move aims to suppress further evidence of misconduct. Jones Dickson claims prior resentencing efforts were rushed.
- The county Board of Supervisors faces mounting pressure to address decades of discriminatory practices as lawsuits seek $500 million in combined damages. Attorney Brian Pomerantz argues the misconduct harmed more than just the two men.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Associated Press News
2 men released from Death Row in California sue Alameda County for $572M over jury selection
Two men who were freed last year from state prison over prosecutorial misconduct have now filed suit against Alameda County, claiming prosecutors there sought to rig juries to bolster the district attorney’s “tough on crime” image.
Exonerated death row inmates sue Alameda County over jury selection
Ernest Dykes and Curtis Lee Ervin, both recently freed after spending decades on Death Row, have filed lawsuits against Alameda County seeking a combined $572 million in damages and punitive penalties. The lawsuits accuse county prosecutors of intentionally removing Black and Jewish jurors during jury selection to achieve murder convictions and enhance the district attorney office’s “tough on crime” reputation. Driving the news: Evidence include…
2 men released from Death Row in California sue Alameda County for $572M over jury selection - The Business Journal Alameda County Sued Over Alleged Prosecutorial Misconduct in Jury Selection
Two men who were freed last year from state prison over prosecutorial misconduct have now filed suit against Alameda County, claiming prosecutors there sought to rig juries to bolster the district attorney’s “tough on crime” image. Ernest Dykes filed suit today in federal court accusing the Alameda County DA’s office of violating his right to a fair trial in 1995 when the prosecutor in his case, Colton Carmine, used a peremptory challenge to rem…
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