91AggieLawyer said:Backyard Gator said:
Re: #1 I believe three potential jurors were struck because they are educators. Is that enough for a Batson challenge? I don't think it is.
ANY excuse works. It just can't be a pretext (i.e. false).
They will not get a Batson claim for tossing educators that also coincidentally happen to be black.
I'm growing weary of Megyn Kelly, but listened to some of her coverage as I was in Canada when the case was wrapping up so it made good road trip time on her podcast. She went into detail on Batson.
Obviously "they're black and I think they aren't being truthful about objectivity" isn't a valid reason to strike. She said any good attorney knows how to ask additional and follow-up questions until they get the answer that IS a valid and legal reason to strike.