Court Opinion

ID: 9527782
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:34:11.53295+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:26:12.077246
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE HEIPLE, dissenting: The majority opinion today sets forth an unfortunate precedent. In reversing and remanding this cause for a Batson hearing, the majority relied on marginal evidence which does not give rise to a colorable claim of racially discriminatory peremptory challenges. By doing so, the majority has at best created a guessing game for the appellate court, and at worst, mandated the remandment of all but the most ludicrous of claims for a Batson hearing. The record in this case offers meager support for a colorable claim of racial discrimination. Indeed, the record makes clear that only one excused venireperson was identified as being black. The record indicates that when defense counsel raised his first objection to the jury selection, the State had excused at most two, albeit unidentified, possibly black venirepersons. At that time, the State had exercised only four of its peremptory challenges, of which half were alleged to have been used “against any black or Latino juror.” Arguably, this could mean that anywhere between zero to two black jurors were struck. The most plausible reading is that one black juror and one so-called Hispanic juror were excused. But, for purposes of determining whether a colorable claim exists, the most important fact for a court of review to keep in mind is that this record fails to indicate what in fact happened. Bald assertions, without more, should not give rise to a colorable claim of racial discrimination. As to the only prospective juror excused who was identified as being black, there was no evidence that the peremptory challenge was for anything but a race-neutral reason. The prosecutor explained that he excused Maulden because Maulden said he had a tendency to favor the defense. The mere fact that the trial court may have had a difference of opinion with the prosecutor as to Maulden’s ability to put aside this tendency is insufficient foundation to build a claim of racial discrimination. I submit that the facts built into this record do not present a colorable claim of discrimination sufficient to require a Batson hearing. If the facts in this case are deemed sufficient, numerous other cases with equally unsubstantiated records would similarly require remands for Batson hearings. Indeed, today’s opinion would seem to require a Batson hearing any time an attorney cried foul, regardless of whether the race of the jurors or prospective jurors were recorded. I also take issue with today’s opinion for another reason. Assuming for the sake of argument that the facts contained in this record were enough to establish a color-able claim, the majority has failed to articulate what pushed this case over the line. Was it the totality of the evidence in the record or were the judge’s remarks to the prosecutor during voir dire the deciding factor? By failing to shape and define the amorphous facts of this case, the majority has essentially left the reviewing courts of this State without guidance. Accordingly, I respectfully dissent. JUSTICE BILANDIC joins in this dissent.