SECOND DI VI SI ON

M I LLER, P. J.

, REESE and GOBEI L, JJ.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a l s .us /r ule s

June 12, 2019



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 9 A0 32 2 . AIKG, LLC v . M ARSHALL.

M I LLE R , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

In th i s ci v il act i o n

, Tan i sh a M ars h al l s u ed AIKG, L LC, al l eg i n g n eg l ig en ce in

t h e o p erat i o n o f i t s i nd o o r g o -k art faci l i t y wh ere M ars h al l s u s t ai n ed s eri ou s b o d i l y

i n ju ri es fro m a cras h wh i l e o p erat i n g a g o -k art

. Fo l l o wi n g a ju ry v erd i ct an d ju d g m en t

i n M ars h al l ’ s f

a v o r

, AIKG, LLC ap p eal s

. In i t s s o l e en u m erat i o n o f erro r, 1 AIKG

arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt erred in g ran ti n g M ars h al l ’ s Ba t s o n 2 ch al l en g e to t h e u s e o f

i t s p erem p t o ry s t ri k es . Fo r t h e reas o n s t h at fo l l ow, we affi rm

.

1 In it s rep l y b ri ef t o t h i s Co u rt

, AIKG wi t h d rew t h e s eco nd en um erat i o n o f

erro r reg ard i n g th e t ri al co u rt ’ s d en i al o f i t s m o t i o n fo r d i rect ed v erd i ct co n cern i n g

i t s as s u m p t i o n o f ri sk affi rm at i v e d efen s e. At o ral arg u m en t, A IKG co n fi rm ed t h at i t

h ad ab an d o n ed t h at en u m erat i o n

.

2 Ba t s o n v. Ken t u cky , 4 7 6 U. S. 7 9 (1 06 SCt 1 7 1 2 , 9 0 LEd 2 d 6 9) (1 98 6 ).Th e reco rd s h o ws t h at M ars h al l fi l ed a co m p lai n t a ga inst A I K G a f

ter s u s t ai n i n g

i n ju ri es fro m a cras h wh i l e op erat i n g a go -k art at AIKG’ s faci l i t y

, an d t h e cas e

p ro ceed ed t o t ri al

. Du ri ng v o i r d i re, M ars h al l rai s ed a Ba t s o n ch al l en g e reg ard i n g

AIKG’ s u s e o f i t s p erem p t o ry s t ri k es

. M ars h al l arg u ed t h at o f t h e t wen t y -fi v e

m em b ers o f t h e ju ry p o o l

, f

i f t een were Cau cas i an an d ten were Afri can -Am eri can

,

an d o f t h e t en Afri can -Am eri can p ro s p ect i v e ju ro rs

, o n l y t h ree o f t h o s e ju ro rs were

s el ect ed

. Th e t r i a l c o u r t n o t ed t h at al l o f t h e s t ri kes us ed b y AIKG were ag ai n s t

Afri can -Am eri can s

, an d d i rect ed AIKG t o res p on d t o M ars h al l’ s B a ts o n ch al l en ge.

AI K G b e gan it s res p o n s e b y n o t i n g t h at it h ad n o t u sed al l o f i t s p erem p t o ry

s t ri k es an d h ad o n e s t ri k e rem ai n i n g . AIKG t h en p ro v i d ed ex p l an at i o ns fo r each o f

i t s s t ri kes . As t o t h e fi rs t s t ri k e, AIKG’ s co u n s el ex p l ai ned

,

So m y fi rs t s t ri k e was N um

b er 1 1 . Th i s was a ret i red g en tl em en an d i n

m y e x p e r i e n ce I t y

p i cal l y d o n o t l i k e ret i rees

, n o m at t er wh at t h ei r

b a c k g ro un d i s

. I fi n d t h at t hey

, I d o n ’ t k n o w i f i t’ s fro m d ay t i m e

t el ev i s io n o r wh at

, b ut i n m y ex p eri en ce r e t i r ees h av e n o t b een

p art i cu l arl y

g o o d d efen s e ju ro rs

.

As t o t h e s eco n d s tri k e, AIKG’ s co u n s el s ai d

,

Nu m b er 1 3

, . . . w e d i d n’ t l earn t h at m u ch i n fo rm at i o n fro m [J u ro r 1 3 ]

.

Th e o n l y n ot e t h at I h av e wri t ten d o w n ab o u t [J u ro r 1 3 ] was th at s he

2co m

m en t ed d u ri n g [M r.] Ho ffs p i eg el ’ s vo i r di re t hat wh en p eo p l e d ri ve

t o o fas t , i t can l ead t o g reat i n ju ri es o r d eat h

.

M r. Ho ffs p i eg el

, as I s aw a p rev i ew o f h is cas e y es t erd ay

, d u ri n g

o p en i n g s tat em en t s

, t h e cas e t h at we m i s t ri ed i s go i n g to b e s p en d i n g a

g reat d eal o f t i m e, I th in k

, i n t hi s cas e d i s cu s s i n g s p eed

, wh ic h i s wh y

I n o t ed t h at , an d wh i ch i s wh y I s t ru ck J uro r Nu m

b er 1 3

.

As t o t h e t h i rd s t ri k e, AIKG’ s co u n s el ex p lai n ed

,

J u ro r Nu m

b er 1 4

, . . . - - O h

, s h e’ s al so -- Sh e d i d n’ t h av e -- [J u ro r 1 3 ]

an d [J u ro r 1 4 ] were th e t wo l ad i es t h at w ere s eat ed s i d e b y s i d e an d

n ei t h er o n e o f t h e m o ffered u s m u ch i nfo rm at i o n t o g l ean ab o u t th em

d es p i t e M r. Ho ffs p ieg el ’s f a i r l y ex ten s i v e v o i r di re an d t h e on l y t h i n g

t h a t I wro te do wn wi t h h er i s t hat sh e h ad a p ret t y v i s ceral react i o n t o

o n e o f t h e q u es t i o n s d u ri n g M r. H o ffs p i eg el ’ s ex am i nat i on

, w h i ch w as

t h at s h e was v ery

, v ery

, v ery ad am an t ab ou t s eat bel t u s ag e an d s eem ed

t o i n d i cat e t h at s h e t h o u g h t t h at s eat bel t s wo u l d b as i cal l y p rev en t an y

s o rt o f i n ju ry

.

Reg ard i ng t h e fo urt h s t ri ke, AIKG’ s co u n s el s t at ed

,

Nu m b er 1 7 was a ju ro r t h at I act ual l y fo l l o wed up on becau s e h e s ai d

s o m et h i ng d u ri n g M r. Ho ffs p i eg el ’ s q u es ti o n i n g th at cau sed m e a l i t t l e

b i t o f co ncern an d t h at was t h at

, i f y o u d o n ’ t fo ll o w t h e ru l es

, p eo p l e get

h u rt

, an d ag ai n h av in g acces s t o h av i n g h eard M r. Ho ffs p i eg el ’ s o p en i n g

s t at em en t y es t erd ay

, an d fran k l y h is v o i r d i re bo t h d ay s, I k no w th at t h i s

3i s g o i n g t o b e a s afet y ru l e cas e an d h e’ s g o i n g t o al l eg e t h ere were

m u l t i p l e v i o l at i o n s o f s afet y ru l es

.

As t o t h e fi ft h s t ri ke, AIKG’ s co u n sel el ab o rat ed

,

Let ’ s see, t he l as t ju ro r t hat I s t ru ck

, [J u ro r 2 3 ]

. Ag ai n we d i d n ’ t learn a

l o t ab o u t [J uro r 2 3]

, b u t th e o n e t h i n g t h at I wro t e d o wn ab o ut [J uro r 2 3 ]

was t h at , b u s i n es s es s h o u l d m ak e s u re t h at p eo p le can n o t g et h urt , an d

t h at i s a d i rect q u o t e fro m h er d u ri n g t h e v oi r d i re p ro ces s. Th at ’ s wh y

I ch o s e t o s tri k e [J u ro r 2 3 ] an d t h at ’ s t h e en d of m y s t ri k es fo r th e ju ry

.

As t o t h e s t ri k e of a ju ro r o n t h e al t ern at e p a n e l

, AIKG’ s co u n s el

ex p l ai n ed

,

So wi t h th e al t ern at e k n o wi n g t h at we bas i cal l y h ad t h o s e th ree ju ro rs t o

ch o o s e fro m

, I l o o k ed at t h at a n d co m p ared t h e ju ro rs ag ai n st o ne

an o t her a n d

, fran k l y

, t he fact t h at I had t h e o p p o rt u n i t y t o h av e a

y o u n g er m al e, wh o I t h o ug h t m i g h t fran k l y u n d ers t an d g o k art i n g a l i t t l e

b i t b et t er t h an an o l d er l ad y

, t h at ’ s wh y I wan t ed to u se m y s t ri k e o n h er

t o h o p efu l l y

g et t h e y o u ng er g uy

.

Aft er AIKG’ s co u n s el g av e t h e reas o n s fo r t he s t ri k es , t h e t ri al co u rt i n i t i al l y

ru l ed t h at AIKG i m

p ro p erl y ex erci s ed al l o f it s perem p t o ry s tri k es wi th th e ex cep t i o n

o f i t s fo urt h s t ri k e ag ai n s t J u ro r 1 7 . Sp eci fi cal l y , as t o t h e fi rs t s t ri k e, t h e t ri al co u rt

s t at ed

, “ [t ] h e ret i ree, I d o n o t fi n d t h at to b e a race-n eu t ral reas o n fo r st ri ki n g s o m eo n e

4b e cau s e t h ey are ret i red

. So I w i l l p u t th at ju ro r b ack i n th e p oo l .” Th e t ri al c o u r t

co n ti n u ed

,

As i t rel at es t o J u ro r Nu m b er 1 3 an d 1 4

, . . . b o t h b e i n g [ A fri can ]

-

Am eri can wo m en

, wh ere d efen s e at to rn ey has s tat ed

, d i d n o t o ffer m u ch

i n fo rm a t i o n on ei t h er, b u t t h e fi rs t o n e t h e reas o n b ei n g t hat t he ju ro r

co m m en t ed

, th at g reat i nju ri es an d d eat h wh en y o u dri v e t o o fas t [s i c]

.

An d t h e o t h er ju ro r t h e reas o n g i v en was th ey m ad e a co m m en t as i t

rel at es t o Pl ai n t i ff’ s q u es t i o n ab o u t seat b el ts an d t h em sav i n g p eo p l e. I

d o n o t fi n d ei t her o f t h o se reas o n s t o be race-n eu t ral . Seat bel t s, ju ro rs

,

ap p ears t o b e p ret ex t s fo r J u ro rs 1 2

, 1 3 an d fo r t h e ret i ree ju ro r, t h at w as

J u ro r Nu m

b er 1 1

.

Reg ard i ng J u ro rs 2 3 an d 3 0 , t h e t ri al co u rt s t at ed

,

J u ro r Nu m

b er 2 3

, d efen s e a s s ert ed

, no t a l ot ab ou t [J u ro r 2 3 ] ei t h er

--

b u s i n e s s es sh o u l d m ak e s u re t h at t h e p l ace i s s afe fo r t h ei r p eo p l e an d

I fi n d t h at i s n ot a race-n eu t ral reas o n, s i n ce n o t m u ch i n fo rm at i o n w as

g at h ered an d i t a p p e ars t o b e t h at an y co m m en t or an y s t at em en t t hat

t h es e ju ro rs m ad e was g iv en as a p ret ex t fo r a reas o n t o s t ri k e th em s in ce

n o t t h at m

u ch d i al o g was t ak en fro m t h em

.

. . .

J u ro r Nu m

b er 3 0

, . . . reas o n i n d i cat ed t h at

-- J u ro r Nu m b er 30 i n d i cat ed

t h at t h e reas on t he ju r o r w a s t ak en b ecau s e t h ere were t h e al t ern at e

ch o i ces

, t h ere were y ou n g er ju ro rs an d t h ey m ay k n ow m o re ab o ut race

cars an d go k art s. An d I g u es s , i f I l o o k ed at t h e o th er ju ro rs

, wh o m ay

5h av e b een s el ect ed

, I g u es s i n lo o k in g at t he ag es o f th e ju ro rs

, th i s ju ro r

was bo rn in 1 9 8 7. An d t he ju ro r t h at was s t ru ck was b orn i n 1 9 6 0

. An d

s o i f I l o ok at J uro r Nu m b er 7

, . . . wh o was a w h i t e fem a l e

, s h e w a s

b o rn i n 1 9 5 7

. If I l o o k ed at an ot h er J u ro r Nu m ber 9

, . . . h e was b o rn i n

1 9 5 9

. So wh en l o o k i ng a t t h o s e t wo ju ro rs

, wh o h av e ag ed

, t h ey ’ re

v ary i n g ag es o n t here, b u t I fi nd t h at i s n o t a race- n e u t r a l reas o n

co n s i d eri ng t hat t h ere are o t h er ju ro rs wh o are as o l d o r o l d er, so s eat th e

ju ro r.

Th e t ri al co u rt t o o k a b ri ef reces s aft er i t s i n i t i al ru l i n g o n M ars h al l ’ s Ba t so n

ch al l en g e. 3 Aft er reco n v en i n g

, th e t ri al co urt d i rect ed M ars h al l t o res p o n d t o AIKG’ s

arg u m en t s co n cern in g i t s reas o n s fo r t he s t ri k es

. Aft er M ars hal l ’ s p ret ex t arg u m en t s

,

t h e t ri al co urt u p h el d i ts i n i t i al ru l i n g , s t at i n g,

[B] as ed u po n t h e fact t h at r a ce n eu t ral reas on s were n o t gi v en ; b as ed

u p o n t h e fact t h at s e v e r a l o f t h e ju ro rs

, n am el y

. . . J uro rs Nu m b er 1 1

,

J u ro r N u m

b er 1 3

, J u ro r Nu m

b er 1 4 an d J u ro r Nu m

b er 3 0 an d J uro r

Nu m b er 3 3

, 4 were as k ed few, i f an y

, q u es ti o n s

. An d th e q u es t i o ns

, th e

l i m i t i n g o r t h e l ack o f q u es t i o n i ng o r th e l ack of m ean i n g fu l q u es t i on i n g

,

i s o n e of t h e reas o n s t h at I co n s i d ered i n s t ri k i n g t h e ju ro rs -- I’ m s o rry

3 P r i o r t o t h e reces s, t h e t ri al co u rt h eard arg u m en t s o n AIKG’ s Ba t so n

ch al l en g e t o M ars h al l ’ s s t ri kes

, wh i ch t h e t ri al co urt d en i ed

.

4 Al t h o u g h t h e tri al co u rt referred t o J u r o r 3 3

, it ap p ears th at t h e t ri al co u rt

m i s s p o ke an d m ean t t o referen ce J u ro r 2 3

.

6i n res e a t i n g t h e ju ro rs an d i n di cat i n g t h at t h e reas o n s g iv en b y th e

d efen s e were no t race n eu t ral reas o n s. Bas ed u po n t h e s t ri k es t h at th e

d e f e n s e m ad e, i t was an o v erwh el m i n g p at t ern o f s tri k es ag ai n s t

Afri can -Am eri can s an d reas o n s are p rev i o u s l y g i v en n o t a l o t o f

m ean i n g fu l q u es t i o n ed [s i c] as k ed b y t h em

.

If w e l o ok at t h e j u ry li s t t h at h as b een s u b m i t t ed an d t he ju ro rs wh o

were ch os en

, t h e p art i es h ad s i x s t ri k es each

. Th e Pl ai n ti ff u s ed fo u r o f

t h ei r s t ri k es an d t he Defen d an t u s ed fi v e o f t h ei r s tri k es

. Bas ed u p o n th e

ju ro rs

, w h o were s tru ck fo r cau se

, t h e p a r t i es

, i f t h ey h ad u s ed al l o f

t h ei r s t ri k es

, wo u ld h av e g o n e t o Nu m b er 2 9 [s ] i n c e t h e p lai n t i ff o n l y

u s ed fo u r, th e d efen s e u s ed fi v e, t h ey st o p p ed at N u m b er 2 5

. Bu t i n

l o o k i n g at t h e ju ry s h eet an o t h er fact o r t h at I co n s i dered

, th e d efen s e h ad

a n o t h e r s t ri k e, w h ich wo u l d h av e b een J u ro r Nu m b er 2 7

, an d J u ro r

Nu m b er 2 7

, bei n g an Afri can -Am eri can

, was s t ru ck b y t h e d efen s e b u t

i t was cro ss ed t h ro u gh b ecau s e t h ey real i zed

, t h e p art i es real i zed

, t h ey

d i d n o t n eed to g o p as t 2 5 b ecau se t h ey wo u l d h av e h ad 1 2 ju ro rs

. So i f

I t ak e al l o f t hat i nfo rm at i on

, p u t i t t o get h e r an d co m e u p wi t h an

ex p l an at i on as t o wh y t h e ju ro rs s h ou l d b e s e at ed

, i t w as

o v erwh el m in g l y t h at t h e reas o n s g i v en were n ot race n eu t r a l

. Few, i f

an y

, q ues t i on s were as ked an d it w as o v erwh el m i n g l y a n u m ber o f

Afri can -Am eri can s t h at were s t ru ck

.

Th e cas e p ro ceed ed t o tri al an d t h e ju ry ret u rn ed a verd i ct i n M ars h al l ’ s fav o r. Th e

ju ry al lo cat ed 64 percen t o f t h e fau l t t o AIKG, 2 4 p ercen t o f t h e fau l t t o t h e d ri v er

wh o cras h ed i n t o Mars h al l

, 1 2 p ercen t o f t h e fau l t to M ars hal l

, an d award ed $ 2

7m i l l io n in d am ag es

. Th e t ri al co u rt s u b seq u en tl y en tered it s ju d g m en t in M ars h al l ’ s

fav o r. Th i s ap p eal fo ll owed

.

AIKG co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt co nd u ct ed an i m p ro p er Ba ts o n an al y s i s by

fi nd i ng p ret ex t at s t ep two of t h e B a t s o n t es t an d b y fai l i n g t o an al y ze wh et h er

M ars h al l p ro ved d i scri m i n at o ry i n t en t as req u i red u nd er Ba ts o n ’ s t h ird s t ep

. W e are

u n p ers u ad ed

.

In Ba t s o n

, t h e U n i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt b arred t h e g o v ern m en t fro m

s t r i k i n g p ro s p ect i v e j u ro rs fro m t h e ju ry p an el o n t h e b as i s o f race. Ul t r a Tel eco m,

In c. v. Me r c h a n t

, 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. 2 3 0

, 2 3 2 (7 6 1 SE2 d 6 2 3 ) (2 0 14 ). See al s o Ba t s o n

,

s u p ra, 4 7 6 U. S. at 84

. In E d m o n s o n v. Lees vi l l e Co n cr et e Co

. , 5 0 0 U. S. 6 1 4 (1 1 1

SCt 2 0 7 7, 1 1 4 L Ed 2 d 6 6 0 ) (1 99 1 ), t h e Su prem e Co u rt ex t en d ed i t s ho l di n g i n Ba t so n

t o ci vi l cas es

. Ul t r a Tel eco m

, s u p ra, 3 28 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 3 2

. Es t ab l i s h i n g a Ba t so n

v i o l at i o n req u i res s at i s fact i o n o f a t h ree-p ro ng t es t : “ (1 ) t h e o p p o nen t o f a p erem p t o ry

c h a l l en g e m

u s t m ak e a p ri m a faci e s h o wi n g o f raci al d i s cri m i n at i o n; (2 ) t h e

p ro p on en t o f th e s t ri k e m u s t t hen pro v i de a race-n eu t ral ex p l an at i on f o r t h e s t ri k e;

an d (3 ) t h e co urt m

u s t d e c i d e wh et h er t h e o p p o n en t of t h e s t ri k e h as p ro v en

d i s cri m i n at o ry i n t en t .” (Ci t at i o n o m i t t ed .) Id

.

8[ I ]n r ev i ewi ng th e t ri al co u rt ’ s d is p o si ti o n o f Ba t s o n m o t io n

, we m

u s t

b ear i n m i n d t h at t h e tri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n res t s l arg el y u p o n as s es s m en t

o f t h e p ro po n en t’ s s t at e o f m i n d an d cred i b il i ty ; i t t h e refo re l i es

p ecu l i arl y wi t h i n a t ri al ju d g e’ s p ro v i n ce. Th u s, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s

as t o wh et h er t h e o p p o n en t o f t he s t ri ke h as m et t h e b u rd en o f

p e r s u as io n are en t it l ed t o g reat d eferen ce an d wi l l b e affi rm ed u nl es s

cl earl y erro n eo u s.

(Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ul t r a Tel eco m

, su p ra, 3 2 8 Ga. Ap p

. at 2 3 2 -2 3 3.

W i th t h es e g u i d i n g pri n ci p l es i n m in d

, we t u rn to t h e fact s s u rro u n d in g AIKG’ s cl ai m

o f erro r.

As AIKG co n ced es

, a s i m i l ar l eg al i s s ue t o t h e o n e rai s ed h ere was al s o rai s ed

i n Du n n v. S t a te

, 3 0 4 Ga. 6 4 7 (8 2 1 SE2 d 3 5 4 ) (2 0 18 ). In Du n n

, t h e t ri al co u rt h eard

t h e St at e’ s arg u m e n t o f a p ri m a faci e cas e fo r i t s M cCo ll u m 5 ch al l en g e, wh i ch

req u i res pro o f of t h e s am e el em en ts fo r a Ba t s o n ch al l en g e. Id . at 6 4 9 (2 ). Aft er t h e

t ri al co urt h eard t he d efen s e’ s race-n eu tral arg um e n t s

, th e t ri al co u rt ru l ed t h at o n e

ju ro r was i m

p ro p erl y s t ru ck fro m th e ju ry

. Id

. at 6 4 9-6 5 0 (2 ). A ft er th e t ri al co urt ’ s

i n i t i al ru l i n g

, t h e St at e p ro v i d ed ad d i t i o n al arg u m en t s as t o wh y t h e d efen s e’ s reas o n

5 In Geo r g i a v. McCo l l u m

, 5 0 5 U.S. 4 2 (1 11 SCt 2 3 4 8, 1 20 LE2 d 3 3 ) (1 9 9 2 ),

t h e U n i ted St at es Su p rem e Co u rt ex t en ded Ba t so n t o ch al l en ges m ad e b y t h e

g o v ern m en t

, an d pro h i bi t ed cri m i n al d efen d an t s fro m ex erci s i n g perem p t o ry s t ri k es

i n a raci al l y

d i s cri m i n at o ry

m an n er.

9fo r t h e st r i k e, al t h ou gh faci al l y race-n eu t ral

, was p ret ex t

. Id

. Th e tri al co u rt

s u b s eq u en t l y u p h el d it s i n i t ial ru l i n g an d s eat ed t he i m p ro p erl y s t ru ck ju ro r. Id

. at 6 5 1

( 2 )

. Du n n arg u ed o n ap p eal

, as AIKG arg u es h ere, t h at “ t h e t ri al co u rt fai l ed t o

co n s i d e r s t e p t hree of t he [ Ba t s o n ] t es t

, an d i m

p ro p erl y fo u n d i n s t ep t wo o f t h e

an al y s i s t h at h i s ex p l an at i o n was n o t race-n eu t ral .” Id

.

In reject i n g Du n n ’ s a r g u m e n t

, o u r Su prem e Co u rt reas o ned t h at “ [w] h i l e t h e

t ri al co u rt d i d n o t ex p res s l y i nd icat e t h at i t was m o v i n g t o s tep t h ree o f th e M cCo l l u m

an al y s i s, we d o n o t l o o k m erel y at t h e n o m en cl at u re u sed d u ri n g a co l l o q u y

, bu t at t h e

t o t al i t y o f t h e d i s cu s s i o n

, i n cl u d i n g t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s i nq u iry .” Du n n

, s u p ra, 3 0 4 Ga.

at 6 5 1 (2 ). Th e Su p rem e Co u rt n o t ed t h at “ [w] e d o n ’ t read s t at em en t s i n i s o l at i o n ; we

read t h em i n co nt ex t .” (Ci t at i o n an d p u nct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Id

. Th e Co u rt n o t ed t h at

wh i le t he t ri al co u rt i n co rrect ly r u l e d t h at Du nn fai l ed t o art i cu l at e a race-n eu t ral

reas on fo r h i s s t ri k e, th e t ri al co u rt s u b s eq uen t l y heard arg u m en t fro m t he St at e as to

wh y t h e d efen s e’ s reas o n fo r t h e s t ri ke was p ret ex t

. Id

. at 6 50 -6 5 1 (2 ). T h e Co u rt

fu rt her reco g ni zed t h at aft er t h e St at e’ s pret ex t arg u m en t

, th e t ri al co u rt “ co n cl u d ed

t h at t h e ex p l an at i o n was p ret ex t u al an d m ad e wi t h d i scri m in at o ry i n t en t .” Id

. Th u s

,

t h e Co u rt h el d t h at

, i n l i g h t o f t h e t o t al i t y o f t he d i s cu s si o n s, t h e t ri al co u rt co n d u ct ed

10t h e p ro p er M c C o l l u m i n q u iry

, an d t h e Co u rt affi rm ed t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g o f

p u rp os efu l d i s cri m in at i o n . Id . at 6 5 1 -6 5 2 (2 ).

Here, as i n Du n n

, t he t ri al co u r t h eard M ars h al l ’ s arg u m en t o f a pri m a faci e

cas e o f p u rp os efu l d i s cri m in at i o n i n AIKG’ s ex erci s e o f i t s p erem p t o ry s t ri k es

, as

wel l as AIKG’ s race- n e u t r a l ex p l an at i o ns fo r i t s s tri k es

. L i k e Du n n

, aft er AIKG

p ro ffered it s race-n eu t ral e x p l a n at i o ns fo r i t s s t ri k es

, t h e t ri al co u rt i n i t i al l y

i n co rrect l y fo u n d p ret ex t i n AIKG’ s ex erci s e o f i t s s t ri k es

. H o wev er, l i k e t he St at e in

Du n n

, M ars h al l s u p p l i ed arg u m en t s p ri o r to t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n al ru l in g t h at AIKG’ s

ex p lan at i o n s fo r t h e s t ri k es , al t h o u g h faci al l y race-n eu tral , were p ret ex t

.

Acco rd i ng l y

, un d er D u nn

, AIKG’ s co n t en t i o n t h a t th e t ri al co u rt erred by

co n du ct in g an i m

p ro p er Ba t

s o n i n qu i ry m

us t fai l

. W h il e t h e t r i a l co u rt d i d n ot

ex p res s l y s t at e t h at i t was m o v i n g to t he t h i rd s t ep of t h e Ba ts on an al y s i s

, w e l o o k at

“ t h e t o t al i t y o f t h e d i s cu ss io n

, i ncl u d i n g th e t ri al co u rt ’ s in q u i ry ” as i n s t ru ct ed b y o u r

Su p rem e Co u rt

. D u n n

, su p ra, 3 0 4 Ga. at 6 5 1 (2 ). In r e v i e w i n g t h e t o tal i t y o f t h e

d i s cu s s i o n

, we d et erm i n e t h at t he t ri al co u rt h eard arg u m en t fro m b o t h Mars h al l an d

AIKG p ri o r t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s u l t i m at e ru l i ng reg ard i n g p u rp o s efu l d i s cri m i n at i o n.

Th u s, t he t ri al co u rt co n d uct ed a p ro p er B a t s o n i n qu i ry

. Id

. at 6 5 1 -6 5 2 (2 ). Th e fact

t h at t he t ri al co u rt u s ed t h e t e r m “ race-n eu t ral ” i n t h e d i scu s s i o n as t o wh et h er

11AIKG’ s s t ri k es were p ret ex t u al i s n o t d i s p o s i t i v e an d d o es n ot al t er o u r co n cl u s i o n.

See i d

. at 6 5 1 (2 ) (“ T h e u s e by t h e St at e an d t h e t ri al co u rt

, as wel l as d efen s e

co u ns el

, of t h e t erm ‘ race n eu t ral ’ in t he d i s cu s s i on o f w h et h er Du n n ’ s s tat ed reas o n

fo r t h e s tri k e w as p ret ex t u al i s n o t d i s p o s i t i v e.”); Co lema n v. S t a t e

, 3 01 Ga. 7 2 0

, 7 2 3

-

7 2 4 (4 ) (8 0 4 SE2 d 2 4 ) (2 0 17 ) (s t at i n g t h at t h e t ri a l co u rt ’ s us e o f t h e t erm “ racen eu tral ” was n ot d i s p o s i ti v e, an d t h at t h e tri al co u rt “ im p l i ci t l y en g ag ed i n t h e t h i rd

s t ep ” of Ba t

so n b y heari n g fro m b o t h s i d es p ri o r t o t h e f i n a l d e t e rm i n at i o n o f

p u rp os efu l d i s cri m i n at i o n ). Fu rt h erm o re, AIKG’ s arg u m en t t h at rev ers al is req u i red

b ecau s e th e t ri al co urt fai l ed to m ak e “ i n d i v i du al i zed fi n di n g s ” reg ard i n g M ars h al l ’ s

p ret ex t arg u m en t s al s o fai ls

. See Du n n

, su p ra, 3 0 4 G a. at 6 4 9

- 6 5 2 ( 2 ) (t ri al co u rt

m erel y co n cl u d i n g t h at t h e St at e’ s reas o n i n g was p ret ex t u al

, an d t h at t h e ju ro r wo u ld

b e s eat ed ). M o reo v er, t h i s Co u rt h as p rev i o us l y reject ed t h e arg um en t t h at a t ri al co u rt

co n du ct s an i m

p ro p er Ba t

so n i nq u i ry b y

fai l i ng t o m ak e ex p res s fi nd i n g s reg ard i n g

a p art y ’ s p ret ex t arg u m en t

. See Y o r k v. S t a t e

, 2 4 2 Ga. Ap p

. 2 8 1

, 2 9 0 ( 4) (b ) (5 2 8

SE2 d 8 23 ) (2 0 0 0 ) (“ Ap p el l an t s al so co n t en d t hat t he tri al co u rt d i d n o t co m p l et e t h e

‘ th ree s t ep p ro ces s,’ b ecau s e t h e co u rt fai l ed to m ak e a s ep arat e det erm i n at io n o n t h e

reco rd t h at t h e defen s e h ad fai l ed t o p ro v e d i scri m in at o ry in t en t

. T h is d et erm i n at i o n,

12h o wev er, was i m p l i ci t i n th e t ri a l c o u r t ’ s d en i al o f th e B a t so n m o t i on an d d o es n ot

req u i re a s ep arat e, s p eci fi c fi nd i n g o n t h e reco rd .”).

W h en al l t h ree s t ep s o f t h e Ba t s o n i n q ui ry are co m

p let ed an d t h e ex p l an at i on s

fo r t h e p e rem

p to ry s t ri k es are g iv en

, “ t h e t ri al co u rt m u s t u l t i m at el y d eci d e t h e

cred i b i l i t y of s u ch ex p l an at i o n

, an d b ecau s e t he th i rd s t ep of t h e [ B a t s o n ] p ro ced u re

m an d at es t h at th e t ri al co u rt act as t h e t ri er o f fact

, t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s are t o b e

g i v en g reat d e feren ce an d are t o b e affi rm ed u n l es s cl earl y erro n eo us .” (Ci t at i o n

o m it t ed .) Du n n

, su p r a

, 3 0 4 Ga. at 6 5 2 (2 ). “ In d et erm i n i n g wh et h er a s t ri k e i s

p ret ex t u al

, t h e t ri al co urt

, wh i ch can d i rect l y ev al u at e an at t o rn ey ’ s cred i b i l i t y an d

w h e t h e r d i s cri m i n at o ry i nt en t i s p res en t

, s h o u l d fo cu s o n t h e g en u i n en es s o f t h e

ex p lan at i o n

, rat h er t h an i t s reas o n ab l en es s.” (Ci tat i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Id

.

Ad d i t i o n al l y

, al t h o u gh AIKG co n t en d s t h at t h e fai lu re t o as k few o r an y q u es t i o n s o f

t h e s t ri ck en j u ro rs i s no t rel ev an t in d et erm i n i n g d i s cri m i n at o ry i n ten t

, o t h er co u rt s

h av e n ot ed o th erwi s e. Bo t h t h e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt an d t h e E l ev en t h Ci rcu i t

Co u rt o f Ap p eal s h a v e n o t ed th at d i s p arat e q u es t i o n i n g o r t h e fai l ure t o q u es t i o n

s t ri ck en ju ro rs are fact o rs a t ri al co urt ca n c o n si d er in ad ju di cat in g a B a t

so n cl ai m

.

See Mi l l er -El v. Dr et

ke

, 5 4 5 U. S. 2 3 1, 2 6 6 (1 2 5 SCt 2 3 1 7

, 1 6 2 L E2 d 1 9 6 ) ( 2 0 0 5 )

(s t at i n g t h at t h e St at e’ s “ s t ri k es co rrel at e[d ] wi t h n o fact as wel l as t h ey co rrel at e[d ]

13wi t h race, an d t hey o ccu rred d u ri n g a sel ect i on in fect ed b y s h u ffl i n g an d d i s p arat e

q u e s t i o n i n g t h at race ex p l ai n s b et t er t h an an y race-n eu t ral reas o n ad v an ced b y t h e

St at e.”); Ma di so n v. Co mmr

. Al a

. D ep t

. o f Co r r ect i o ns

, 7 6 1 F3 d 1 2 4 0

, 1 2 5 2 (1 1 th

C ir

. 2 0 1 4 ) (n o t i n g t h at am o n g t h e rel ev an t fact ors su p po rt i n g M ad i s o n ’ s Ba t s o n c la im

was t h e p ro s ecu t o r’ s fai l u re t o q u es ti o n t h ree o f t h e s t ri ck en ju ro rs ).

Gi v en t h at al l o f t h e s tri ck en ju ro rs were Afri can -Am eri can

, as wel l as t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g o f AIKG’ s ad m i s s i o n t h at i t d i d n o t “ g l ean ” i n fo rm at i o n fro m s ev eral

o f t h e s t ri ck en ju ro rs

, t h e d i s p arat e o r l ack o f q ues t i o ni ng o f t h e s t ri ck en ju ro rs

, an d

AIKG’ s s t ri k i n g o f an Afri can -Am eri can ju ro r o n t h e al t ern at e p an el

, th e t ri al co u rt

d i d n o t cl earl y err i n fi n d i n g p u rp o sefu l d i s cri m i nat i on i n AIKG’ s u s e o f i t s

pe r e m ptor y str ike s. A c c or d i ng l y

, we affi rm th e t ri al co u rt ’ s ru l i n g g ran t in g M ars h al l’ s

Ba t s o n ch al l en g e.

Ju d g men t a f f i r m ed

. Rees e a nd

Go b ei l , JJ., co n cu r

.

14