Opinion ID: 2534025
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Counsel's response to the finding of purposeful discrimination

Text: The record clearly establishes that Foster's trial counsel did object to the trial court's decision and remedy. Thus, Foster's claim that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to properly object to the trial court's decision is belied by the record. Moreover, we conclude that Foster has failed to establish that the district court erred in finding a pattern of gender discriminatory strikes against women in the venire or in reinstating the last juror as a remedy for the Batson violation. Thus, Foster has failed to demonstrate prejudice sufficient to establish that he is entitled to relief on his claims of ineffective assistance of trial counsel. It is impermissible to use a peremptory challenge to exclude a potential juror based on race [23] or gender. [24] In determining whether peremptory challenges have been used in a discriminatory manner, the complaining party must [first] make a prima facie showing of intentional discrimination. [25] Next, the party accused of discriminatory challenges must offer a gender or race-neutral explanation for striking the jurors. [26] The trial court must then decide whether the complaining party has carried his burden of proving purposeful discrimination. Our review of the record reveals that the trial court properly considered the State's Batson challenge under this three-step analysis and conducted a thorough canvass of defense counsel's reasons for striking the challenged women. Such findings are given great deference on appeal, [27] and we discern no legal error or abuse of discretion in the trial court's finding of purposeful discrimination. Thus, Foster has not shown the prejudice necessary to establish any entitlement to relief on his claims relating to his appellate counsel's failure to challenge the trial court's finding of discrimination; such a challenge would not have had a reasonable probability of success on appeal.