Court Opinion

ID: 9603470
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 02:06:36.581746+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:02:12.014284
License: Public Domain

PARKS, Judge,
specially concurring:
I write separately to again point out my disagreement with the holding in Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986). As I explained in my separate opinion in Manuel v. State, 751 P.2d 764, 766-67 (Okla.Crim.App.1988), the effect of Batson is to force a peremptory challenge, which is a challenge without cause, to become a challenge for cause. Nevertheless, I am bound to follow this rule of federal constitutional law.
As pointed out by Judge Brett, Batson dealt with the exclusion of black veniremen. Although Batson is unclear as to whether this principle must be applied to all identifiable racial groups, I believe that the Equal Protection Clause requires the rule to be applied to all cognizable racial groups. Accordingly, I concur.