JOEL I. JONES v. STATE OF FLORIDA

In this case, defense counsel objected to the State exercising a peremptory challenge against a white male juror who may have identified with ’ the Hispanic class. Defense counsel requested both a race and gender neutral basis for the strike:

[Defense counsel]: Judge, we would object to the State exercising a peremptory challenge against [the juror] who is identified with the Hispanic class and would request a race neutral—

THE COURT: Okay.

[Prosecutor]: Judge, he’s a white male.

[Defense counsel]: Well, we request the gender neutral- reason. We would request both.

THE COURT: So your position is…