People v. Johnson

Judgment affirmed. All concur, Callahan, J., not participating. Memorandum: Defendant appeals from a judgment convicting him of one count each of robbery in the first degree and rape in the first degree, and two counts of sodomy in the first degree, arguing that the prosecutor improperly exercised his peremptory challenges during voir dire to exclude black jurors. We find that the prosecutor provided neutral explanations for the exercise of his peremptory challenges, and that defendant has failed to meet his burden of proving purposeful discrimination (see, Batson v Kentucky, 476 US 79;…