Can a prosecutor challenge a defendant's assertion that the justice system is unfair?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Jones, C058674 (Cal. App. 5/4/2009), C058674 (Cal. App. 2009):

Relying largely on information outside the appellate record, defendant claims the challenge to H.T. was improper because her assertion about the justice system was correct. But the prosecutor was entitled to challenge H.T. for any reason including her beliefs about the justice system, whether correct or not, so long as the reason was not based upon group bias, i.e., H.T.'s membership in a particular group. (People v. Gutierrez (2002) 28 Cal.4th 1083, 1122.)

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