People v. Hall

*164Opinion

GRODIN, J.

Defendant appeals from a judgment of conviction entered on jury verdicts finding him guilty of violating Penal Code sections 245, subdivision (a), and 236.1 We reverse, having concluded that the trial court failed to exercise its judgment in determining whether the prosecutor’s use of peremptory challenges was for reasons relevant to the case before it or reflected a constitutionally impermissible group bias. (See People v. Wheeler (1978) 22 Cal.3d 258 [148 Cal.Rptr. 890, 583 P.2d 748].)

Defendant, who is black, was charged with assault with intent to commit rape (§ 220),…