People v. Kern

OPINION OF THE COURT

Alexander, J.

On this appeal, defendants assert a right, through the *643mechanism of the peremptory challenge, to exclude persons of a particular race from service on a criminal jury. We hold today that such racial discrimination has no place in our courtrooms and that such conduct by defense counsel is prohibited by both the Civil Rights Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of our State Constitution. Accordingly, we affirm the order of the Appellate Division upholding defendants’ convictions.

I

Defendants were convicted, after a highly publicized trial, of manslaughter, and…