More than 120 cases, including some for assault on family members and police, were dismissed Tuesday in Boston, the latest fallout from a monthslong dispute over pay that has led public defenders to stop taking new clients.
The jury's composition reflects a disparity, especially when considering the socioeconomic and educational backgrounds of jurors versus defendants. Most jurors were educated and employed, while the defendant was not.
"I want this a--hole out of the country. Quick. Period," Sarcone said. "No. 2, I'm not going to sit there going through a trial in the city of Albany with a jury of his peers who think that it's great for him to be in the city and run around menacing and trying to kill people."
Legal Aid Society lawyers, who represent low-income criminal defendants, immigrants and others, have reached a standoff with management over pay, caseloads and remote work, prompting a potential strike.