Minnesota Session Laws - 1990, Regular Session

  

                         Laws of Minnesota 1990 

                        CHAPTER 557-S.F.No. 1081 
           An act relating to courts; providing for a study by 
          the supreme court of racial bias in the judicial 
          system; appropriating money. 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
    Section 1.  [SUPREME COURT STUDY OF RACIAL BIAS IN THE 
JUDICIAL SYSTEM.] 
    Subdivision 1.  [STUDY.] The supreme court shall study 
racial bias in the judicial system in Minnesota.  The court 
shall appoint an advisory task force to assist with the study.  
    Subd. 2.  [CONTENTS.] The study must examine the extent to 
which racial bias exists in the judicial system, including the 
existence of discriminatory treatment of litigants, witnesses, 
jurors, judges, attorneys, and court personnel who are members 
of racial minorities.  The study should:  
    (1) identify positions within the judicial system 
including, but not limited to, judges, judicial clerks, court 
reporters, judicial administrators and their staff, county 
attorneys, public defenders and their staff, and identify 
minority representation or underrepresentation in the positions; 
    (2) review sentencing patterns to see if the length or 
conditions of sentences vary based on the defendant's race; 
    (3) review the jury selection process, including grand 
juries, to determine the representation or underrepresentation 
of minority populations on juries and determine if the use of 
peremptory strikes varies based on the juror's race; and 
    (4) review other aspects of court operations as appropriate 
to identify patterns of different and unequal treatment of 
racial minority persons. 
    The task force shall report its findings and 
recommendations to the legislature by January 1, 1993.  In the 
interim, the task force may report findings as parts of the 
study are completed. 
    Sec. 2.  [APPROPRIATION.] 
     $50,000 in fiscal year 1991 is appropriated from the 
general fund to the supreme court to carry out the study under 
section 1.  This is a one-time appropriation and is available 
until expended. 
    Presented to the governor April 26, 1990 
    Signed by the governor May 4, 1990, 11:14 p.m.