• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Crime / Courts / Supreme Court rules in Davenport jury selection case

Supreme Court rules in Davenport jury selection case

January 27, 2012 By Dar Danielson

The Iowa Supreme Court has ordered a new trial for a man convicted of assaulting a police officer based on the jury selection in the case. Jerin Mootz was accused of assaulting a Davenport police officer outside a bar following a disturbance in 2009.

During the selection of the jury, Mootz asked that a potential juror who had been a bartender, be removed from consideration. The district court ruled the juror could not be removed because he was Hispanic, and the officer involved in the case was Hispanic,  and it was important to have minority representation on the jury.

Mootz was found guilty of the assault charge, but appealed, saying the denial of his right to strike the juror did not allow him to have a fair trial. The Court of Appeals ruled that the district court was wrong, but it did not prejudice the case. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that Mootz’s request to remove the juror was not shown to be based on racial discrimination, and should have been allowed.

The high court said it would be impossible for Mootz to show prejudice from the juror who was allowed to participate in the trial in error. So the court says any ruling in a case where the juror was improperly seated should be reversed.

Mootz’s case is being sent back to the district court for a new trial.

See the ruling here: Mootz ruling PDF

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, News

Featured Stories

Exhibit features lesser known works of Grant Wood

Testing finds 21 new CWD cases in deer

It may become a crime in Iowa to use fake urine in workplace drug tests

February trending 18 degrees below average temperature

Iowa House Education Committee votes to end tenure at UI, ISU, UNI

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

New look and new format at girls’ state basketball

Youngstown State takes action against assistant football coach

Iowa’s Jack Nunge lost for the season

Key stretch begins for #9 Iowa

Drake’s Roman Penn lost for the season

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2021 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC