Felkner v. Steven Frank Jackson, USSC No. 10-797, 3/31/11 On habeas review under 28 U.S.C. § 2254, the court of appeals failed to give sufficient deference to the state court determination that the prosecutor had race-neutral reasons for striking 2 of 3 black prospective jurors. The prosecutor struck one juror because she had an MSW, and… Read more
3. Batson issues
7th circuit court of appeals decision Batson Challenge Scope of the remand inquiry for the government to proffer nonracial justification for striking a minority juror is limited to the original reason offered during voir dire, new post hoc justifications being inadmissible. Miller-El v. Dretke, 545 U.S. 231 (2005), discussed and followed: … Accordingly, Miller-El II… Read more
State v. George Melvin Taylor, 2004 WI App 81, PFR filed 4/13/04 For Taylor: Ellen Henak, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate Issue/Holding: ¶18. Accordingly, we must now turn to the Batson challenge itself. Our supreme court has adopted the Batson principles and analysis. State v. Lamon, 2003 WI 78, ¶22, 262 Wis. 2d 747, 664 N.W.2d 607 (citing State v. Davidson, 166 Wis. 2d 35… Read more
State v. Nancy R. Lamon, 2003 WI 78, affirming unpublished decision of court of appeals, affirmed on habeas review, Lamon v. Boatwright, 7th Cir No. 05-4018, 11/8/06 For Lamon: Timothy A. Provis Issue/Holding: A trial judge is not required to make detailed findings in ruling on a Batson issue, ¶76. Issue/Holding: That a prospective juror’s last name “is a well-known criminal name” in the… Read more
State v. Bernell Ross, 2003 WI App 27, PFR filed 2/21/03 For Ross: Andrew Mishlove Issue/Holding: ¶15. In a challenge to a Batson ruling, we review the trial court’s determination as to whether the State had a discriminatory intent as a finding of historical fact, which we shall not disturb unless clearly erroneous. State v. Gregory, 2001 WI… Read more
State v. Calvin Gregory, 2001 WI App 107, PFR filed 5/10/01 For Gregory: Meredith Ross, LAIP, UW Law School Issue1: Whether defendant was entitled to a Batson hearing on the prosecutor’s articulated reasons for striking the lone African-American juror. Holding1: The prosecutor’s asserted reasons — concerns about juror’s truthfulness; close proximity of juror’s residence to alleged scene of… Read more
State v. Dennis Jones, 218 Wis. 2d 599, 581 N.W.2d 561 (Ct. App. 1998) For Jones: Michael S. Holzman Issue/Holding: The State argues that Jones’s Batson objection, made after the jury was sworn, came too late. Jones responds that his objection was timely. We conclude that the defendant must make a Batson objection prior to… Read more
