Hernandez v. Maryland

RODOWSKY, Judge.

The petitioner, Jorge Hernandez (Hernandez), was convicted in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County of child abuse and second degree rape. At trial Hernandez testified in Spanish, through an interpreter. Hernandez here contends that the trial court improperly refused to propound his requested voir dire question sixteen, reading, “Is there any member of the panel who would be prejudiced against a defendant because of any defendant’s race, color, religion, sexual orientation, appearance, or sex?” As more fully explained below, because prejudice based on race was raised by the…