J.E.B. v. Alabama ex rel. T.B.

J.E.B. v. Alabama ex rel. T.B., 511 U.S. 127 (1994), is a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court.

In a paternity and child support trial, the state used peremptory challenges to strike nine of the ten potential male jurors, resulting in an all-female jury. The father challenged the strikes as gender discrimination in violation of the Equal Protection Clause. The Alabama courts rejected the challenge, holding that Batson applied only to racial discrimination.

Significance

Justice Blackmun’s 6-3 opinion extended Batson to gender-based peremptory challenges. The Court held that intentional discrimination on the basis of gender in jury selection violates the Equal Protection Clause, just as race-based discrimination does. Gender stereotypes about how men and women would decide cases were no more permissible than racial stereotypes. The decision required attorneys to provide gender-neutral explanations for peremptory challenges when challenged.

Category

US Federal Case Law