J. E. B. v. Virginia addressed peremptory challenges to exclude jurors based on which characteristic?

J. E. B. v. Virginia addressed peremptory challenges to exclude jurors based on which characteristic?

• A. Race
• B. Gender
• C. Age
• D. Religious beliefs

Answer: (B)

Peremptory challenges cannot be used to exclude jurors simply because of their gender. J. E. B. v. Virginia extended the protection against discrimination in jury selection beyond race to gender, holding that striking jurors on the basis of gender violates the Equal Protection Clause. The Court treated gender the way Batson treats race in peremptory strikes, requiring neutral explanations and not permitting discrimination against a protected class. In short, excluding someone from a jury because of gender is unconstitutional, while the focus of this decision is not on age or religious beliefs.

Peremptory challenges cannot be used to exclude jurors simply because of their gender. J. E. B. v. Virginia extended the protection against discrimination in jury selection beyond race to gender, holding that striking jurors on the basis of gender violates the Equal Protection Clause. The Court treated gender the way Batson treats race in peremptory strikes, requiring neutral explanations and not permitting discrimination against a protected class. In short, excluding someone from a jury because of gender is unconstitutional, while the focus of this decision is not on age or religious beliefs.