In separate interviews with WFMY News 2 this month, Steve Friedland, Professor at Elon University School of Law, spoke with reporters about two current North Carolina cases; the trial of Keith Carter, charged with the murder of Winston-Salem Police Sergeant Howard Plouff, and a Caswell County case of alleged misconduct of a former prosecutor.
In his March 4 interview with WFMY, Friedland spoke about the controversy surrounding the selection of an all-white jury in the Keith Carter murder trial.
Following remarks by members of the Winston-Salem community, Friedland was interviewed to shed light on jury selections.
“The 6th amendment requires an impartial jury and that’s what the court looks at – can the person be fair,” Friedland said. “Potential jurors can’t be discriminated against based on race. Anyone who admits knowledge of the case or says they can’t be impartial, will be dismissed.”
On March 10, Friedland spoke with WFMY on alleged misconduct charges against a former Caswell County district attorney and the effect this could have on his prior cases.
Friedland remarked on whether a conviction would result in a reversal of District Attorney Joel Brewer’s former cases.
“Did this prosecutor take an unfair advantage or manipulate the system for some ulterior reason? If that’s the case then there may be a reversal,” said Friedland. “It doesn’t automatically mean though if someone is found guilty of a crime that cases that they worked on were indeed prejudiced…it is up to the judge to find prejudice in each case.”
Click on the E-Cast links to the right of this article to watch the news segments.
By Tiffany D. Atkins, L’11