The Ark-La-Tex Gazette

By Dr. Kirkpatrick Williams, Ph.D.
March 23, 2026 |  SHREVEPORT, LA 

It is well known that Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate in the United States, with more than 30,000 people in prison as of January this year. About 93.7% of those incarcerated are men, and 64% are African American. Some of these individuals were convicted by juries that did not all agree. In other words, people were found guilty even though not all 12 jurors voted to convict them, which violates the U.S. Constitution. To address this issue, Louisiana Senate Bill 215 and Louisiana House Bill 219 have been introduced, but they have received mixed reactions.

Senate Bill 215 was written and introduced by Patrick McMath, and House Bill 219 was introduced by Charles Anthony Owens. Both bills are designed to create ways for courts to review convictions or sentences connected to the unconstitutional non-unanimous jury system.

These bills come after the Supreme Court case Ramos v. Louisiana, which ruled in 2020 that non-unanimous jury convictions violate the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution and the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. Louisiana adopted the non-unanimous conviction policy in 1898.

While both bills try to fix this issue, they take different approaches. Senate Bill 215 focuses on preventing future constitutional violations but keeps many past convictions in place. House Bill 219 goes further by addressing both current and past cases and offering a possible path to freedom for people who were convicted under the unfair system.

In conclusion, both bills show that Louisiana recognizes the harm caused by non-unanimous jury convictions. The decision in Ramos v. Louisiana made it clear that these convictions are unconstitutional, and the state’s old law should no longer be used. However, the bigger question is how to deal with the people still serving time under that system. Louisiana must decide whether to focus only on future fairness or also correct past wrongs. That choice will reflect the state’s commitment to justice, equality, and its willingness to address the lasting impact of its history.