Cudjoe v. Commonwealth

COLE, Senior Judge.

In a jury trial, appellant, Hambrey Milton Cudjoe, was convicted of rape and aggravated sexual battery. He contends that the trial court erred in disallowing one of his peremptory challenges during the jury selection process and by requiring that he strike another juror from the jury panel.1 We agree and reverse.

*196The appellant asserts that under Code § 19.2-262, he is entitled to four peremptory strikes for any reason at all, so long as the strikes do not constitute intentional racial or gender discrimination in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Federal…