On Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the Daily Caller published an opinion piece highlighting a controversial judicial decision by Oregon Court of Appeals Judge Josephine Mooney.
The judge overturned a 2018 conviction in a high-profile case involving Darian Lee McWoods, who was initially sentenced to life in prison for the death of his 15-month-old daughter, Kamaya Flores, in 2013. The case has drawn attention to Mooney’s judicial approach and her stated commitment to incorporating diversity and equity into her rulings.
In 2018, McWoods was convicted on multiple charges, including two counts of murder by abuse, three counts of first-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, first-degree criminal mistreatment, and tampering with a witness. The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Kamaya Flores died from a methamphetamine overdose, with evidence of physical abuse, including broken ribs, a lacerated liver, facial bruising, and petechial hemorrhages. The state’s expert witness testified that the injuries were consistent with inflicted child abuse and compression asphyxia.
Judge Mooney vacated McWoods’ conviction, citing concerns over jury selection, specifically the removal of two Black jurors, which she argued introduced potential racial bias. Rather than ordering a retrial, prosecutors negotiated a plea deal reducing McWoods’ sentence to 10 years. Having already served eight and a half years at Eastern Oregon Correctional Institute in Pendleton, McWoods is expected to be released in approximately one and a half years.
Mooney has publicly discussed her judicial philosophy. In an interview with the International Association of LGBTQ+ Judges, she emphasized her commitment to applying the rule of law in a manner that promotes a diverse and open society. She stated that equitable and impartial enforcement of the law requires judges to consciously consider perspectives beyond their own. Mooney’s approach has sparked debate, particularly in light of her decision in the McWoods case.
A 2024 study by Baylor University, Texas A&M University, and Hitotsubashi University, referenced in the Daily Caller piece, found no evidence of racial bias against Black defendants in American jury decisions. The study used multiple methodologies, including comparisons of conviction rates and true bill rates for defendants with Black versus White names, concluding that racial bias was not a significant factor in juror decisions.
Mooney’s ruling and her public statements have placed her at the center of discussions about the role of diversity and equity in the judicial system. The McWoods case continues to raise questions about sentencing disparities and judicial decision-making processes.
Source: Daily Caller
