Case Name: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Stephen L. Mitchell, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1988-12-23
Citations: 145 A.D.2d 967
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Stephen L. Mitchell, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 145
Pages: 967–967

Head Matter:
The People of the State of New York, Respondent, v Stephen L. Mitchell, Appellant.

Opinion:
— Judgment unanimously reversed on the law and new trial granted, in accordance with the following memorandum: Defendant was convicted after a nonjury trial of second degree assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Defendant contends that he involuntarily waived his right to a jury trial because the prosecutor impermissibly exercised a peremptory challenge to exclude the sole black juror (see, Batson v Kentucky, 476 US 79). Defendant established a prima facie case that the prosecutor exercised his peremptory challenge in a racially discriminating manner (see, People v Knight, 134 AD2d 845) and the prosecutor failed to proffer a satisfactory impartial explanation for his peremptory challenge. Defendant's waiver of a jury trial was not voluntary since the record reveals that the waiver was coerced by defendant's belief that he could not be fairly tried by an all-white jury.
Because a new trial is required, we do not address the remaining issues raised by defendant. (Appeal from judgment of Onondaga County Court, Auser, J. — assault, second degree, and other charges.) Present — Callahan, J. P., Boomer, Green, Pine and Davis, JJ.