October Term 2003 · Docket 03-6539
Does a prosecutor's removal of all minority jurors prove discrimination?
The dispute centers on the legal standard for proving jury selection bias.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
the side that brought the case claims the prosecutor removed all African American jurors.
the side that brought the case argues this leaves a black defendant with an all-white jury.
the side that brought the case states this scenario is a paradigm of a prima facie case.
the side that brought the case asserts the California threshold conflates distinct legal steps.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 24-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 24-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 45-57 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 45-57
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the threshold for proving discrimination in jury selection.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 24-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 24-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 7-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 30, 2004.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 45-57 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 45-57
What each side wants
the side that brought the case seeks a reversal of the lower court judgment.
The state seeks an affirmation of the lower court judgment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 24-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 24-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 7-33
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the current standard is too high.
The state argues the current standard is correct.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 24-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 24-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 7-33
What the justices asked
The Chief Justice asked the side that brought the case to address three points.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 45-57 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 45-57
Why it matters
The standard determines how easily a defendant proves jury bias.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 24-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 24-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 7-33
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 45-57 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 45-57
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 24-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 24-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 24-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 24-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 7-33
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.