Court Opinion

ID: 4667831
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-03-15 22:18:51.319104+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:01:59.648322
License: Public Domain

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
                           DIVISION ONE

STATE OF WASHINGTON,                                     No. 80946-6-I

                                Respondent,

                 v.                                      UNPUBLISHED OPINION

HARRY T. SAYLOR,

                                Appellant.

       PER CURIAM — Harry Saylor was convicted by a jury of possession of

methamphetamine. Saylor appealed, arguing that the trial court improperly

excused a potential juror, identified in the record as an African-American woman, in

violation of GR 37, Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S. Ct. 1712, 90 L. Ed. 2d

69 (1986), and the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. He argues

that the reasons the State gave for challenging the potential juror with a peremptory

strike were either not corroborated by the record or would be understood as a

reflection of unconscious racial bias to an objective observer.

       The State concedes that, based on the totality of the circumstances in the

record, an objective observer could have viewed race or ethnicity as a factor in

the challenge to the potential juror. See GR 37(e) (If “an objective observer

could view race or ethnicity as a factor in the use of the peremptory challenge,

then the peremptory challenge shall be denied.”).

     Citations and pin cites are based on the Westlaw online version of the cited material.
No. 80946-6-I/2

      We accept the State’s concession. We reverse Saylor’s conviction for

possession of methamphetamine and remand for further proceedings.

                                      FOR THE COURT:

                                      2