Genaro García Luna faces trial for drug trafficking.
Photo: BOP – Eastern District Court of NY / Getty Images
The trial to Genaro Garcia Luna It begins to reveal various aspects, but one that seems minor stood out in the jury selection process: what New Yorkers think of Mexicans.
Although most of the people interviewed during the selection process of the panel that will define the future as “guilty” or “not guilty” of García Luna did not express negative aspects about the natives of Mexico, some were discarded as jurors for their anti-Mexican expressions. .
In the 79-question questionnaire that people randomly selected in New York to form part of the jury had a specific question about people of Mexican originbecause García Luna is of that nationality, although he emigrated to the United States as a businessman.
“Do you have any opinions about Mexican descendants that might cause you any doubt about your ability to be fair and impartial as a juror?” says question 63.
Among those who expressed negative opinions, an immigrant of Ecuadorian origin stood out, who said that the actions of some Mexicans affect the vision that other people have of Hispanics in general.
“They make Latin Americans look bad“said jury 130.
Due to his clear bias, the man was dismissed by both the defense and prosecutors. The judge thanked the man for expressing his point of view honestly, but she dismissed it.
Another of the interviewees had better luck, despite having expressed that on five or six trips to Mexico City before 2001 he followed recommendations “not to talk to anyone” to avoid a kidnapping, in addition to having been warned that in the Mexican capital there were “militias” on every corner.
Judge Kuo said she respected that opinion, but that not all people who traveled to Mexico had the same experience, so she questioned the jury 133 if her position would affect her ability to decide impartially on the case.
“My mind tells me yes,” he said with some doubt. Prosecutors and defense, led by saritha komatireddy Y Cesar de Castrorespectively, had a private meeting with Judge Kuo, after which she kept the jury on the shortlist, despite her point of view.
The man also said he knew the story of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman Loera.
Two curious moments in the jury selection process occurred when Juror 114 expressed their religious position.
“The judgment will be decided by the Lord,” the man said. The judge pointed out that religious positions should be set aside and he said that he was open to hearing the case. He was kept on the preliminary list.
Another case was that of jury 124, who expressed being a Buddhist, for which he believed in karma and, in this case, if a person was accused of something, it was because of it.
“To every action there is a reaction,” he said.
Asked if he would be impartial leaving aside his religious position, the man acknowledged that “it would be difficult”, since deciding the future of a person could have a reaction, following his idea of karma. The parties decided to discard it.
This Thursday will be the final selection of the jury with 12 starters and six substitutes.
The first hearing will be on January 23. with the presentation of the case by the prosecutors, as well as the defense strategy.
This process is expected to last up to eight weeks, due to the list of at least 70 witnesses and cooperators.
