Court Opinion

ID: 9492538
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 14:43:39.454985+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:55:21.521667
License: Public Domain

JOHN R. GIBSON, Circuit Judge,
concurring specially.
I concur in the court’s opinion today because I am compelled to do so by the precedent of this court. Sithithongtham was forced to exercise three peremptory challenges to remove venire members who testified to their belief that a law enforcement officer testifying in court is more believable simply because of his or her position. The trial court’s failure to remove those prospective jurors for cause has created a situation that offends the essential demands of fairness, and in essence created the possibility that Sithi-thongtham was tried on less than a level playing field. I agree with the rule adopted by the Fifth Circuit as articulated in United States v. Hall, 152 F.3d 381, 408 (5th Cir.1998) (quoting United States v.. Nell, 526 F.2d 1223, 1229 (5th Cir.1976)), that “it is error for a court to force a party to exhaust its peremptory challenges on persons who should be excused for cause, for this has the effect of abridging the right to exercise peremptory challenges” and that this should be reversible error without a showing of prejudice. See also United States v. Martinez-Salazar, 146 F.3d 653 (9th Cir.1998).
The testimony of the three venire members made plain that they would give the testimony of the law enforcement officers the benefit of the doubt, would listen to the officers’ opinions more, and that the officers’ status would have an effect on them. To be required to use peremptory challenges to remove such venire members was fundamentally unfair and is grounds for reversal. I would reverse and remand for a new trial.