The Court of Appeal finds that the People’s reason for a peremptory challenge was presumptively invalid under CCP 231.7(e) –  “[e]xpressing a distrust of or having a negative experience with law enforcement.” Because the challenge was presumptively invalid, the trial court violated the requirements of CCP 231.7(d) by denying defense counsel’s objection without stating any reasons for its ruling on the record. The Court, following the requirements of CCP 321.7(j), deems the error prejudicial, reverses the judgment, and remands the case for a new trial.

The full opinion is available on the Court of Appeal’s website here: https://www4.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/A169256.PDF