Court Opinion

ID: 9648358
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 14:16:07.78064+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:11:59.058905
License: Public Domain

STEADMAN, Senior Judge,
concurring in part and dissenting in part:
I join parts I and II of the majority opinion. However, I think that it is premature to reverse outright at this point on this record. Both parties here were well aware that the Batson issue might be key on appellate review, and the possibility of a need for further inquiry would not come as a surprise. I would remand to give the trial judge and the parties an opportunity to determine whether a fair and reliable Batson inquiry can now be undertaken or whether the trial judge must instead order a new trial. The application of Batson depends in great measure on the sound judgment of the trial court. See, e.g., Hernandez v. New York, 500 U.S. 352, 363-70, 111 S.Ct. 1859, 114 L.Ed.2d 395 (1991). I would permit that judgment to be exercised here in light of full knowledge as to the current situation. See Harris v. Kuhlmann, 346 F.3d 330, 347-49 (2d Cir.2003) (in collateral attack more than fifteen years after trial where state trial court rejected prima facie showing of discrimination, district court abused discretion in fading to hold reconstruction hearing to determine “if possible” whether prosecutor had legitimate reasons for strikes; district court has discretion to order new trial only where it is “demonstrably” true that passage of time has impaired trial court’s ability to make a reasoned determination).