An Alabama civil rights group has filed a lawsuit in federal court, claiming a district attorney barred Blacks from serving on juries.

The Equal Justice Initiative based in Montgomery, Ala., filed the suit on behalf of five African-Americans who state courts found were illegally excluded from jury service because they are Black.

The lawsuit asks the court to declare District Attorney Douglas Valeska’s conduct as discriminatory and unconstitutional and to monitor jury selection in the two south Alabama counties, where he prosecutes cases.

“When you exclude people from jury service on the basis of race, in the courthouse, the very institution designed to protect people from discrimination and violation of their rights, you undermine the integrity of the entire judicial system,” said Bryan Stevenson, executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative and lead attorney for the plaintiffs.