New York Court of Appeals
The People of the State of New York v. Lawrence Bolling, Appellant the People of the State of New York v. Marlene Steele
April 3, 199279 N.Y.2d 317
Summary
The Court held that a Batson prima facie case of discriminatory peremptory challenges may be made before jury selection is complete and that defense counsel established such a case in People v. Bolling, requiring the prosecutor to furnish neutral reasons or face a vacated conviction, while in People v. Steele no prima facie case was found and the conviction was affirmed. Justice Bellacosa concurred in the result but advocated abolishing peremptory challenges.