An Act addressing racial disparity in jury selection

This bill (HD 2263) changes jury selection rules in Massachusetts to address racial disparities. It adds a new rule allowing objections to peremptory challenges (where attorneys dismiss jurors without cause) if race or ethnicity appears to be a factor. Attorneys must justify their challenges, and courts must deny them if an objective observer could link the challenge to race - without needing proof of intentional discrimination. The bill lists specific invalid reasons for challenges, including distrust of police, living in high-crime areas, or receiving state benefits. It directly affects criminal jury trials by altering how jurors are selected and dismissed.