Olympia Discrimination Lawyer, Washington

... 1 This case involves the question of whether a prosecutor's peremptory challenge of the only African-American venire member in a trial of an African-American defendant amounts to a prima facie case of discrimination in violation of Batson v. Kentucky, 476 US 79, 106 S.Ct. ...

... After a discussion with counsel regarding the Batson three-part test, the trial court determined, "[O]ut of an abundance of caution, I find a prima facie case [of discrimination]." 5 VRP (Jan. 30, 2004) at 496. The prosecutor then offered his reasons for exercising the challenge: ...

... Elizabeth Christina Beusch, Attorney General's Office, Government Compliance Division, Olympia, WA, Amicus Curiae on behalf of Washington State Human Rights Commission. CHAMBERS, J. ¶ 1 Until 2007, the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), chapter 49.60 ...