Opinion ID: 2226959
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Marie Shorter

Text: Marie Shorter, a divorced mother of three adult children, worked for Quaker Oats as a computer operator for over 14 years. The State's explanation for removing Shorter was that the victim, Deborah Sepulveda, also worked for Quaker Oats. In its brief, the State argues that it did not want to have a juror who might have a negative view of the victim, thereby tainting the jury and preventing a fair trial. Defendant contends, however, that the State failed to demonstrate the manner in which the fact that Shorter worked for the same corporation as the victim would prevent her from functioning as a fair and impartial juror. Specifically, defendant contends that the record is devoid of any factual information to show that Shorter and the victim knew each other. The trial judge afforded the State the opportunity to question the jurors during voir dire; however, the only question asked by the State was the length of time that Shorter had been employed by Quaker Oats. The State concedes that Shorter did possess characteristics of a number of other venirepersons whom the State did not challenge and who ultimately sat on the jury. For example, Shorter had been the victim of a crime, and stated that she did not have any strong personal or religious beliefs that would prevent her from imposing the death penalty under appropriate circumstances. Said characteristics were also possessed by 5 of the 12 seated jurors and one alternate juror. However, the State maintains that the additional factor of Shorter's employment at the same corporation as the victim, Deborah Sepulveda, distinguished her from the other acceptable jurors. Pursuant to Batson, it is the State's burden to articulate a `clear and reasonably specific' explanation for its use of peremptory challenges against minority venirepersons. ( People v. Harris (1989), 129 Ill.2d 123, 181, 135 Ill.Dec. 861, 544 N.E.2d 357, citing Batson, 476 U.S. at 98 & n. 20, 106 S.Ct. at 1724 & n. 20, 90 L.Ed.2d at 88 & n. 20, quoting Texas Department of Community Affairs v. Burdine (1981), 450 U.S. 248, 258, 101 S.Ct. 1089, 1096, 67 L.Ed.2d 207, 218.) As instructed by Hernandez, the State's rationale for exercising a peremptory challenge must be race neutral. In this case, the State's exclusion of juror Shorter does not demonstrate racial motivation. While it is true that the State might have inquired further to establish a connection between Shorter and Deborah Sepulveda, it cannot be said that the proffered explanation was based upon the race of the juror or demonstrated a discriminatory intent. The trial court did not err in finding the State's reasons race neutral.