Non-English speaking jurors are often excluded from the jury box because of their inability to speak English, and in some states for their inability to speak, read and write in English. Although serving in a jury pool is a constitutional right, Latinos are not represented in the jury box. Having an interpreter in court with them could be an easy solution, but these services are only provided to defendants, and whether or not a juror gets an interpreter is the decision of the judge presiding that trial.
As a consequence, defendants are not having a jury pool that is fairly representative of their community.
Photo of jury box via Ken Lund (Wikimedia Commons).
I have never heard that serving in a jury pool is a constitutional right. If it were that, couldn’t an autonomous citizen waive that right? Because summonses are sent with threats of fines and imprisonment and no excuse is good enough for a citizen to decline making an appearance for voir dire, I cannot see it as either service or a right. I also don’t see how a defendant can hope to have justice without an informed jury – and that is something the lawyers and court seem to be sure not to obtain. Lots of information on this; a good foundational site is fija dot org.