Sifuentes v. Brazelton

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Petitioner, on trial for first degree murder of a police officer, challenged the prosecutor’s decision to excuse nine black prospective jurors. Applying the doubly deferential standard for reviewing a Batson v. Kentucky determination, the court concluded that the California Court of Appeal’s decision was not based on an unreasonable determination of the facts. The court also concluded that the trial court’s decision to preclude petitioner from responding to the prosecutor’s race-neutral explanation for his strikes was harmless. Accordingly, the court reversed the district court's grant of habeas relief. View "Sifuentes v. Brazelton" on Justia Law