Opinion ID: 1724022
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Race-based Batson Challenge.

Text: The defendant complains that the trial court improperly ruled that the defendant had failed to establish a prima facie case of racially discriminatory use of a peremptory strike. The record shows that the trial court kept meticulous notes regarding matters of both gender and race when jurors were peremptorily struck. [3] In making the complained of ruling, the trial court acknowledged that two other prospective black female jurors had been struck prior to Howard, noting that one had discussed religious objections to the death penalty. The trial court noted that the State had also peremptorily challenged two prospective white jurors as well and further noted that four black jurors had been selected without strike. Given the trial court's discretion in determining whether the defendant has made a prima facie case, the prosecutor's use of strikes against both black and white prospective jurors, the number of black jurors actually seated on the jury, and the defendant's having made no argument beyond pointing out that the State had used peremptory strikes against three prospective black jurors, we find nothing to indicate that the trial court's ruling was improper. For the foregoing reasons, we find that assignments of error fourteen and fifteen to be without merit.