Norona v. State

On appeal, Norona argues that the trial court erred in refusing to allow the defense to exercise a peremptory challenge to excuse X.G. where the defense provided a gender — neutral and non-pretextual reason for the challenge. Because I believe the trial court erred when it disallowed Norona’s peremptory challenge to X.G. after defense counsel provided a genuine, race-neutral and gender-neutral reason for the challenge, I respectfully dissent.

The record reveals that after conducting voir dire on a panel of fifty prospective jurors, the parties began exercising cause and peremptory challenges…