Opinion ID: 1254804
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Systematic exclusion of the group.

Text: (8) Finally, to make a prima facie showing of a violation of the fair-cross-section requirement, defendant must show that the underrepresentation is due to systematic exclusion of the group in the jury-selection process. ( Duren v. Missouri, supra, 439 U.S. at p. 364.) Respondent asserts that nothing in the process of random selection from voter registration lists systematically excludes Blacks or Hispanics. Respondent refers to this court's statement in People v. Sirhan, supra, 7 Cal.3d at p. 750, footnote 26, that those who choose not to register to vote are not a cognizable class, and respondent concludes that defendant has not shown that it underrepresents any of those who choose to register to vote. Defendant does not claim that the jury pool underrepresents those on the voter registration list, or that those who choose not to vote are a cognizable class. Rather, defendant complains that the system of solely using voter registration lists results in underrepresentation of Blacks and Hispanics compared to their proportions in the community. Systematic underrepresentation means that the disparity is inherent in the particular jury-selection process utilized. ( Duren v. Missouri, supra, 439 U.S. at p. 366 [58 L.Ed.2d at p. 588].) In this case, defendant has made a showing adequate to demonstrate, in the absence of rebuttal evidence by the state, that the underrepresentation results from the process utilized to choose jury venires  random selection solely from voter registration lists. As we have explained, to make a showing of violation of the fair-cross-section requirement, the defendant need not show that the jury commissioner intended to discriminate against Blacks or Hispanics. All that need be shown is that the system of selection results in denial of a jury pool representing a fair cross-section of the community. As the court said in People v. Superior Court ( Dean ) (1974) 38 Cal. App.3d 966, 971-972 [113 Cal. Rptr. 732]: The decisions requiring the accused to show systematic, purposeful discrimination do not square with others which condemn discrimination stemming from negligence or inertia. The latter recognize that official compilers of jury lists may drift into discrimination by not taking affirmative action to prevent it. In formulating a panel for a grand jury endowed with the criminal indictment function, officials must adhere to a standard more stringent than mere abstention from intentional discrimination; they have an affirmative duty to develop and pursue procedures aimed at achieving a fair cross-section of the community. (Fn. omitted.) We hold that defendant has adequately met the third prong of the Duren test, showing systematic exclusion of Blacks and Hispanics in the jury selection process. (1c) In sum, we hold that defendant's use of statistical evidence using total population figures was sufficient to make a prima facie showing of a gross disparity resulting in a violation of defendant's right to an impartial jury drawn from a fair cross-section of the community. The burden then shifts to the state to rebut the prima facie case. The state may be able to do so by showing, through use of figures defining those presumptively eligible for jury service, that no disparity of constitutional significance exists, or that even with the use of multiple sources and all other practical means, a certain level of disparity is unavoidable. Finally, it may be able to justify the underrepresentation by showing that a significant state interest [is] manifestly and primarily advanced by those aspects of the jury selection process ... that result in the disproportionate exclusion. ( Duren v. Missouri, supra, 439 U.S. at pp. 367-368 [58 L.Ed.2d at p. 589].) In the present case, however, the state has not attempted to rebut the defendant's proof but has shortsightedly rested its entire argument on the mistaken claim that defendant failed to present a prima facie case. (9) The error in concluding that defendant had failed to make a prima facie showing of a violation of his right to a jury drawn from a representative cross-section of the community is prejudicial per se. `The right to a fair and impartial jury is one of the most sacred and important of the guaranties of the constitution. Where it has been infringed, no inquiry as to the sufficiency of the evidence to show guilt is indulged and a conviction by a jury so selected must be set aside.' ( People v. Wheeler, supra, 22 Cal.3d at p. 283, quoting People v. Riggins (1910) 159 Cal. 113, 120 [112 P. 862].) The foregoing reasoning leads us to conclude that defendant's conviction must be reversed. A majority of the justices of this court, however, do not agree on whether, and to what extent, the rule announced in this case should be given retroactive effect. We therefore take no position as to the disposition of other cases presenting issues concerning the representative character of juries selected from voter registration lists alone. [10]