Concurrence O'Connor End date 1994 | Concurrence Kennedy | |
Full case name J. E. B., Petitioner v. Alabama ex rel. T. B. Citations 511 U.S. 127 (more)
114 S.Ct. 1419, 64 Empl. Prac. Dec. P 42,967, 128 L.Ed.2d 89, 62 USLW 4219 Prior history Certiorari to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals 606 So.2d 156 Majority Blackmun, joined by Stevens, O'Connor, Souter, Ginsburg Ruling court Supreme Court of the United States Similar Batson v Kentucky, Edmonson v Leesville Concrete, Miller‑El v Dretke, Snyder v Louisiana, Heath v Alabama | ||
J. E. B. v. Alabama ex rel. T. B., 511 U.S. 127 (1994), was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that making peremptory challenges based solely on a prospective juror's sex is unconstitutional. J.E.B. extended the court's existing precedent in Batson v. Kentucky (1986), which found race-based peremptory challenges in criminal trials unconstitutional, and Edmonson v. Leesville Concrete Company (1991), which extended that principle to civil trials. As in Batson, the court found that sex-based challenges violate the Equal Protection Clause.
Contents
Background
On behalf of T.B., the mother of a minor child, the state sued J.E.B. for child support in Jackson County, Alabama. During jury selection, challenges intentionally targeted male potential jurors resulting in an all-female jury.
Decision
The Majority opinion was written by Justice Blackmun. Justice O'Connor wrote a concurring opinion, and Justice Kennedy separately concurred in the judgment. Chief Justice Rehnquist filed a separate dissenting opinion. Justice Scalia also filed a dissenting opinion, which was joined by Chief Justice Rehnquist and Justice Thomas.