Opinion ID: 2369367
Heading Depth: 6
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Prospective Juror M.L.W.

Text: When the prosecutor exercised his second peremptory challenge, against M.L.W., defendant made a motion under Batson / Wheeler. Answers to the juror questionnaire indicated that M.L.W. was a religious person who opposed the death penalty and believed it was generally unnecessary, as murderers will always have to answer to God and that's much worse than facing death. [11] M.L.W. nonetheless expressed a willingness to set aside her personal beliefs. M.L.W.'s brother had been arrested for selling drugs, but M.L.W. felt he was fairly treated by the criminal justice system. On voir dire, M.L.W. reiterated a willingness to set aside her personal beliefs regarding the death penalty. M.L.W. also was a crime victim: While driving on the freeway, someone pointed a gun at M.L.W., but she believed this experience would not affect her ability to serve as a juror. In response to defendant's Batson / Wheeler motion, the trial court ruled defendant had failed to make a prima facie case of racial discrimination, although it did note that the first prospective juror peremptorily excused by the prosecutor was Hispanic. The trial court also noted M.L.W.'s religious reservations about the death penalty. Because the trial court ruled defendant had not made a prima facie case, the prosecutor did not explain why he peremptorily challenged M.L.W. The prosecutor later expressed concerns about M.L.W.'s religious beliefs and about jurors who felt they might be sinning or going to hell if they voted in favor of a death verdict. The prosecutor then excused three more jurors, including an African-American (G.N.), without objection.