CA jury race bias ruling [US SC] News
CA jury race bias ruling [US SC]

Johnson v. California, Supreme Court of the United States, June 13, 2005 [rejecting 8-1 a California Supreme Court requirement that a racially discriminatory bias can be found only if it is more likely than not that striking of a juror can be explained exclusively by racial factors]. Excerpt from the Opinion by Justice Stevens:

The facts of this case well illustrate that California's "more likely than not" standard is at odds with the prima facie inquiry mandated by Batson. The judgment of the California Supreme Court is therefore reversed, and the case is remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.

Read the full text of the opinion here [PDF]. Reported in JURIST's Paper Chase here.

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