Opinion ID: 1684864
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 18

Heading: Sherry Dudley

Text: Following the State's strike of Sherry Dudley, Anderson again objected under Batson and argued that the State had exercised or demonstrated a pattern of excusing women from the jury panel. The State responded that the circuit court had made findings on each of Anderson's previous Batson challenges that they were for race-neutral reasons. The State further asserted that although Ms. Dudley initially responded that she could not consider the death penalty and was later rehabilitated, her equivocation was justification for a peremptory challenge. The circuit court then denied Anderson's challenge and concluded that there was no pattern of discrimination. The court noted that the State had previously provided race-and gender-neutral explanations, and that of the jurors selected, there were six women and one man. The court further observed that the State was only required to give a gender-neutral explanation out of an abundance of caution. Once again, we agree with the circuit court. We affirm the circuit court's findings on all the Batson challenges.