Blacks Have Little Confidence In State, Local Courts: Survey

Black Americans have far less confidence in state and local courts than their fellow citizens do, according to a new nationwide survey. Surprisingly, Hispanics expressed greater overall satisfaction than non-Hispanic Whites in the performance of courts.

"Opinion is divided sharply across racial lines," said Frank Bennack Jr., president of The Hearst Corporation, which funded the survey for the National Center for State Courts.

"The consensus is that the courts protect our constitutional rights, and that they are honest and fair. But there is also an overwhelming belief that equal justice under the law is more equal to some than to others," he said.

The survey results, made public at a conference studying public perceptions of courts, indicate that 68 percent of Blacks believe "people like them" are treated worse than others in court.

Conversely, only 33 percent of Hispanics said people in their own ethnic group received worse treatment than others from the courts. More non-Hispanic Whites (47 percent) and Blacks (60 percent) said they think Hispanics receive less than equitable treatment.

About 42 percent of Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites believe Blacks receive worse treatment, the survey indicated.

The survey was based on 1,826 interviews conducted between Jan. 13 and Feb. 15. About 1,200 people were randomly chosen. An additional 300 Blacks and 300 Hispanics were chosen "to ensure that the findings reflect the voices of the major groups in American society," the report said.

The survey's results regarding minorities track the findings of a poll commissioned by the American Bar Association last August. It found that many Americans think the nation's courts do not provide equal justice for racial minorities.