Curtis Hampton: A case of not just justice delayed, but distorted

Curtis Hampton: A case of not just justice delayed, but distorted describes the author’s account of jury selection and the broader timeline of State v. Ernest Carter. The narrative highlights that when jury selection began in Spokane, only one African American juror was seated, and the defense argued Carter could not receive a fair trial due to the jury pool’s racial makeup. Carter’s case began in December 2020, and the article says it moved for more than five years through multiple continuances, counsel changes, amended scheduling orders, and motions including requests to dismiss, compel, and change venue, before reaching a mistrial and later proceedings. The author argues the long delay left Carter in jail while witnesses and legal continuity deteriorated. The piece frames the situation as part of a wider system-level challenge affecting public trust.