State v. Amir Andrews (069594)

Judge CUFF

(temporarily assigned) delivered the opinion of the Court.

In 1986, the United States Supreme Court held that a prosecutor could not peremptorily challenge potential jurors solely on account of their race. Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986). Subsequently, the Court held that it is also unconstitutional for the defendant in a criminal case to utilize peremptory challenges to remove jurors on the basis of race, Georgia v. McCollum, 505 U.S. 42, 112 S.Ct. 2348, 120 L.Ed.2d 33 (1992), or on the basis of gender, J.E.B. v. Ala. ex rel. T.B., 511 U.S. 127,…