Opinion ID: 2594978
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Juror Exclusion

Text: We also reject the claim that counsel was ineffective because he did not object or make an adequate record for appeal concerning the alleged deliberate exclusion of male jurors from the jury panel. Sorensen is correct that the record does not reveal how the parties exercised their allotted nine peremptory challenges. See W.R.Cr.P. 24(d)(1) and (e). After questioning by the attorneys and numerous for-cause removals, a panel of 31 potential jurors was passed for cause, 22 women and nine men. Each side then exercised their nine peremptory challenges, leaving a jury of 12 and one alternate. Because these 13 jurors consisted of 12 women and one man, it follows that ten women and eight men were removed by peremptory challenge. As finally composed, the jury consisted of 11 women and one man. Because of these numbers, it is Sorensen's theory that males were systematically excluded from the jury. It is well established that the Equal Protection Clause forbids the use of peremptory challenges to exclude jurors solely on the basis of their race or gender. Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986); J.E.B. v. Alabama ex rel. T. B., 511 U.S. 127, 114 S.Ct. 1419, 128 L.Ed.2d 89 (1994); Bueno-Hernandez v. State, 724 P.2d 1132, 1134 (Wyo.1986); Espinoza v. State, 969 P.2d 542, 547 (Wyo.1998); Beartusk v. State, 6 P.3d 138, 142 (Wyo. 2000). The very idea of a jury is a body ... composed of the peers or equals of the person whose rights it is selected or summoned to determine; that is, of his neighbors, fellows, associates, persons having the same legal status in society as that which he holds. Batson, 476 U.S. at 86, 106 S.Ct. at 1717 (quoting Strauder v. West Virginia, 100 U.S. 303, 308, 10 Otto 303, 25 L.Ed. 664 (1879)). Sorensen complains that, because the record is silent as to which side challenged which prospective jurors, defense counsel was guilty of ineffective assistance of counsel. We reject this claim for two reasons. First, numerous courts have employed the rule that, if a Batson/J.E.B. claim is not made in a timely fashion, usually before the venire is dismissed, the claim is deemed to be waived. U.S. v. Romero-Reyna, 867 F.2d 834, 837 (5th Cir.1989) (We hold that to be timely, the Batson objection must be made before the venire is dismissed and before the trial commences.); U.S. v. Biaggi, 909 F.2d 662, 679 (2nd Cir.1990) (acknowledging the need to resolve a Batson claim at the point where prompt corrective action can be taken); U.S. v. Abou-Kassem, 78 F.3d 161, 167 (5th Cir.1996); U.S. v. Maseratti, 1 F.3d 330, 335 (5th Cir.1993); U.S. v. Erwin, 793 F.2d 656, 667 (5th Cir.1986); State v. Wilson, 117 N.M. 11, 868 P.2d 656, 661 (App.1993) (collecting cases); People v. Mendoza, 876 P.2d 98, 102 (Colo.App.1994); Foster v. State, 548 So.2d 475, 477 (Ala.Crim.App.1987). In addition, even if the record did reveal how the peremptory challenges were exercised, this court would be hard pressed to find ineffectiveness based on a failure to object to the potential discriminatory exclusion of jurors by gender. In State v. Wilson, 868 P.2d at 663-64, the New Mexico Court of Appeals rejected an ineffective assistance of counsel claim based on failure to make a Batson challenge. In doing so, the court was unwilling to second guess defense counsel: defense counsel might have had reasons related to Defendant's theory of the case for not opposing the prosecutor's use of the State's peremptory challenges .... Alternatively, counsel originally might have been satisfied that the final jury selected was a fair cross-section of the community and that Defendant's chances for an acquittal would not improve with any changes and might instead lessen. Id. at 663. We agree with this reasoning. It reflects great deference to trial counsel, who had an eyewitness view of the venire, in deciding to make, or refrain from making, a Batson/J.E.B. challenge. This reasoning also falls in line with this court's statement that voir dire and the exercise of challenging jurors is trial strategy. Arner v. State, 872 P.2d at 105. We find no ineffectiveness on this ground.