Homework help Business

After reading the case study below write an essay explaining how the appellate court should rule. Theres no page requirement.

On appeal, should the appellate court:

1) deem Prosecutor Lincolns actions reversible error, and remand the case to the trial court level to be retried;

2) vacate (nullify) the jury verdict, and dismiss the charges against Defendant Taylor; or

3) allow the conviction to stand? Should prosecutors be allowed to consider race as a factor in the jury selection process? Gender? Age?

                                  Case Study

Defendant Taylor is an African-American male accused of murdering a white female in an apartment burglary.  During the jury selection process, Prosecutor Lincolns exercises only two peremptory challenges, excusing from service the only two African-Americans in the jury.  An all-white jury is eventually empanelled, and Defendant Taylor is convicted of first-degree murder, with life imprisonment imposed as punishment.

After the jury verdict is announced, Prosecutor Lincolns is questioned by the local media concerning his exercise of the peremptory challenges.  Prosecutor Lincolns explains that race was not a factor in his decision, but that the two potential jurors were excused “because they have facial hair, and as a matter of practice, I do not want individuals with facial hair serving on my jury.”  Further, Prosecutor Lincoln states “I categorically deny that race played any factor whatsoever in the jury selection process.”