Jesse Jackson : Michael Jackson Jury can't do justice

The Rev. Jesse Jackson said yesterday that he doubts Michael Jackson can get a fair trial without a single African-American on the jury that will judge him. "He deserves a fair trial and should have a jury of his peers," the civil rights leader told the television show "Extra." "That jury does not have one African-American, as if we didn't have the right to vote. That's not true, and that's not fair!" said the activist. The California jury seated for the superstar entertainer's pedophile trial is composed of seven whites, four Hispanics and one Asian. Only one of the alternate jurors is black, a 19-year-old flower deliveryman. There were only about a half-dozen blacks in the initial 243 potential jurors pooled from Santa Barbara County, where African-Americans make up 2% of the population. One black potential juror asked to be excused for hardship reasons. Two others selected for the final pool were kicked off, despite objections from the defense, by peremptory challenges exercised by the prosecution. A 51-year-old black woman who was being considered as an alternate was excused after she complained about the lack of diversity in the jury pool. "Just look around us. A jury of his peers would be people of his age and people of color, mixed diversity," the woman said. "How diverse is this jury looking to you right now?" [more]

• Poll: Majority of white Americans Say Charges Against Michael Jackson Are True [more]