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

Alabama (defendant), on behalf of a single mother, brought a paternity and child-support suit against J.E.B. (plaintiff). During jury selection, the state used nine of its ten peremptory strikes to remove male jurors, producing an all-female jury. J.E.B. objected that gender-based peremptory strikes violated equal protection under Batson v. Kentucky's reasoning for race-based strikes; the trial court denied the objection, and the jury found J.E.B. was the father and ordered child support. The court of appeals affirmed, and the U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari.