State Ex Rel. Romley v. Superior Court

OPINION

McGREGOR, Presiding Judge.

In this special action the State, joined by defendant Mendevil, asserts that the trial judge abused his discretion by requiring both the defendant and the State to give reasons for all peremptory strikes, without requiring any prima facie showing of purposeful discrimination and absent objection by the opposing party. For the reasons stated below, we accept jurisdiction and grant relief.

I

The State filed criminal charges against the Real Parties in Interest, Mario Mendevil and Jose Fernando Vega-Vasoco. In October 1994, the State, aware that this trial judge…