How Gov. Murphy plans to make NJ juries more equitable during his final days

In his final days as governor, New Jersey's Phil Murphy has signed an executive order aimed at restoring jury service rights to thousands of state residents who have been formerly incarcerated. The move is seen as a significant step towards making juries more inclusive and representative.

Under the new plan, those convicted of felonies on or before January 10 will be able to serve on a jury once they've completed their parole or probationary period. This estimate suggests that up to 350,000 people could see their right to serve on a jury restored, with approximately a quarter of Black New Jersey residents likely being affected.

Advocates argue that this change is crucial for ensuring that juries truly represent the diversity of New Jersey's population. "It's really good for our justice system since it's going to make our whitewashed juries more representative of New Jersey and the diversity in New Jersey," said Surraya Johnson, director of criminal justice reform at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.

Murphy has a track record of using his clemency powers to pardon and commute sentences, with over 307 individuals receiving relief during his tenure. This new move is seen as an extension of that effort, aiming to restore jury rights to those who have been disenfranchised due to their convictions.

However, critics argue that the governor's actions may be seen as executive overreach, particularly given that this decision does not automatically grant forward-looking reprieve for those convicted of future offenses. The New Jersey Legislature will ultimately need to take action to change state laws around juries if they wish to make such a measure retroactive and applicable to future cases.

The opposition has been vocal, with some Republicans calling Murphy's move "executive overreach" that prioritizes the rights of convicted felons above those of victims and law-abiding citizens.

I'm not sure about this one... I get where Phil Murphy is coming from, trying to make juries more inclusive and representative, but isn't it a bit of a blanket approach? I mean, just because someone's been incarcerated doesn't automatically make them qualified to serve on a jury. And what about the potential impact on victims' rights and safety concerns? We need to consider all perspectives here, not just one side of the coin.

i think its a step in the right direction , but we gotta be real, theres still so much work to be done to make our justice system fair for everyone...like, whats good about this plan? is it really just about making juries more representative or is it also about giving people who've made mistakes second chances? and what about the ones who might not want to serve on a jury but have to cuz of their parole/probation? anywayz, its a start, i guess

idk how this is an executive overreach tho ... think about it like this: phil murphy just wanna give people a second chance, right? and if juries arent representative of nj's population, doesnt that mean were not doing our justice system any good anyway? at least murphy is tryin to fix the problem instead of just lettin it sit there. i mean, what about all the ppl who got disenfranchised in the first place cuz they were locked up for a crime they didnt even commit? doesnt our justice system already do enough harm? i hope this move actually makes a difference and not just another thing to argue about

idk why murphy is doing this ... he's just gonna let anyone outta jail who's done their time? sounds like a recipe for disaster to me it's great that he wants to be all inclusive and whatnot, but doesn't he think about the people who actually get hurt by these felons? i mean, isn't it safe to assume that some of these guys are gonna go out there and reoffend? and now they're gonna get to serve on a jury too? just don't think so...

idk how fair this is gonna be in practice , like people who've done some serious time might get to hang out with their old crime buddies on a jury panel? not saying it's all bad but I gotta wonder if there's a better way to address the diversity issue without potentially undermining the justice system...

I think its kinda cool that Phil Murphy is trying to give people a second chance, especially those who've done their time. Its about time we made juries more diverse and representative of NJ's population. But at the same time, i feel like some ppl are being a bit too harsh on him, saying its executive overreach. I mean, he's just trying to do whats right! The fact that 350k people could have their jury rights restored is pretty mind-blowing. Im all for making sure our justice system is fair and inclusive.

man this is just gonna be a disaster ... I mean think about it, people who've done serious time are gonna be allowed to serve on juries? what's next, letting them vote too? it's great that the governor wants to make his justice system more inclusive, but come on, this is just gonna create a whole new set of problems... like what about the victims of these people's crimes? don't they deserve some say in who's serving on their jury too? and yeah, I can see how the opposition is gonna play it like murphy's being an overreach, but honestly it feels like he's just trying to score points with his base...

I gotta say, this is a big deal . I mean, think about it, thousands of people who've been locked up are going to have their chance to serve on a jury, represent their communities. It's about time we start giving everyone an equal shot at participating in our justice system, you know?

It's not just about numbers, though - it's about the principle that we all deserve a fair shake, regardless of what's happened in our past. And let's be real, if we're gonna claim to value diversity and representation, we gotta make sure that everyone has a chance to be part of it.

Of course, there are some who might say that this is executive overreach, but I think that's just a bunch of spin . If Governor Murphy can use his power to grant pardons, why not extend the right to serve on a jury? It's about using our systems to do what's right, rather than playing politics.

The real question is, will this be enough? Will we see more changes down the line? I think it's a start, but we gotta keep pushing for change. The justice system needs an overhaul, and if we can get people from all walks of life serving on juries, that's a good place to start

yeah thats fair i guess, restore juries rights 2 ex-cons is a good start , but critics got a point too, its like governor just making rules w/ his own power , shouldnt legislature handle this stuff?

Ugh, I don't know how much more of this platform can take . First off, it feels like the governor is just using his executive powers to solve every single problem in New Jersey without even consulting the legislature . I mean, come on, if they want to make changes to the state laws around juries, that's what the NJ Legislature is for, right? They can't just do whatever they want because it aligns with their politics .

And don't even get me started on how convenient it is for Murphy to use his "clemency powers" as a way to show off how "compassionate" he is . Like, hello, being governor isn't about being popular, it's about making tough decisions and following the law .

I guess what I'm trying to say is that while I do think restoring jury rights to formerly incarcerated people is a good idea in theory, the way it's being done feels like a total PR stunt . Can't they just work with each other instead of taking credit for things and then expecting everyone else to deal with the fallout?

OMG, I'm so stoked about this ! Restoring jury service rights to people who've done time is literally a game-changer . It's all about giving ppl a second chance & making our justice system more representative . I know there are concerns, but let's focus on the positives - we're talking about hundreds of thousands of ppl getting their rights back! That's some serious social change happening right now . And can we talk about how Surraya Johnson is low-key a hero for her advocacy work? We should be celebrating leaders like her who are pushing for justice reform .

I'm low-key impressed by Phil Murphy's final act as gov . Restoring jury service rights to formerly incarcerated folks is a great step towards making our justice system more inclusive. It's about time we address the systemic issues that have led to people being disenfranchised due to their convictions. But, I gotta wonder if this change will stick... The fact that it doesn't automatically grant reprieve for future offenses kinda feels like a cop-out . And yeah, critics are right that the opposition is being pretty vocal about it. It's gonna be interesting to see how this plays out in the NJ Legislature

this is about time - all lives matter, including the ones served on a jury it's not like we're giving out free passes to ex-cons, just trying to make sure everyone has a fair shot at justice

can you even imagine how messed up it is that people who've done time are still being held back from serving on a jury because of their conviction like, isn't it about making sure justice is fair for everyone? shouldn't we want to represent the diversity of our community, not just the ones with the most power or influence? I get why the opposition is worried about victims and law-abiding citizens, but come on, this is about giving people a second chance to contribute to their community... it's all about restorative justice and making amends

I think it's pretty cool that Phil Murphy is trying to give more people a chance to serve on juries . I mean, our school's debate team has had to deal with some pretty biased discussions in the past, and it would be awesome if we could have people from different backgrounds and perspectives on the jury panel. Plus, it makes sense that people who've served their time should get a second chance to contribute to society . I just wish more people understood the importance of representation in our justice system .

OMG, like I'm totally glad Phil Murphy is doing this for people who have been locked up ! It's so unfair that they can't even be on a jury after serving time. I mean, I know it's not just about being innocent or guilty, but having a more diverse jury would be super helpful in figuring out if someone was really guilty of something .

And honestly, like, 350k people could be affected? That's crazy! I'm sure some people might say it's an overreach of his power as governor , but I think it's a good move. I mean, why not give people a second chance, right? Plus, it's about time we made our juries more representative of the people who live in New Jersey .

I'm curious to see how this plays out with the legislature and if they'll make changes to state laws . But for now, I'm just happy that someone is trying to fix this issue .

idk about this ... seems like murphy is trying to be a hero, but it's just gonna create more problems. what about all these people who might not even want to serve on a jury? think about the stress and drama that comes with it . and isn't it weird that he's doing this in his last days as governor? trying to leave some kinda legacy or something?

This is a good step towards making our justice system more inclusive & representative, but I'm not sure if it goes far enough . If they're gonna make changes to the laws around juries, we should do it for all people, not just those who have been locked up before . I mean, what about people who are still on parole or probation? Shouldn't their rights be considered too? This executive order feels like a start, but it's still gonna depend on the legislature to make real changes .

I don’t usually comment but I think this is a step in the right direction . Restoring jury service rights to formerly incarcerated people can definitely make our justice system more inclusive. It's not about giving undeserved advantages to convicted felons, it's about making sure everyone has a fair shot at participating in their community.

I mean, if someone's been given a second chance, they should be able to contribute to society just like anyone else . And let's be real, having a more diverse jury can only lead to better decision-making and representation of the people. Plus, it's not like this is going to create more crime or anything - it's just about giving people a chance to make amends and be productive members of society.

Of course, there are valid concerns about executive overreach and all that, but I think this move by Governor Murphy is a positive step forward . We should be looking for ways to fix our justice system and help people reintegrate into society, not just punishing them forever .