Zarazua

BACKGROUND

In April 2019, a Rio Vista police officer saw Zarazua driving a SUV with no rear license plate. The officer tried to conduct a traffic stop, but Zarazua failed to yield. Instead — and while driving with a suspended license — he led law enforcement officers on a 15-minute pursuit during which he committed numerous traffic violations. While evading officers, Zarazua drove into a gated retirement community where he nearly collided with a truck, spun out of control, and crashed into the bushes. Then he got out of the SUV and ran from pursuing officers. Eventually, officers arrested him. At the time of the offenses — and at the commencement of the prosecution — Zarazua identified as female. Trial began in July 2021. During jury selection, defense counsel advised prospective jurors that prosecution witnesses would “refer to Mr. Zarazua as she. And Mr. Zarazua . . . no longer identifies as she. Mr. Zarazua identifies [as male] and prefers the pronoun he.” Counsel asked the jurors to raise their hands if they had “thought of that already.” Fourteen did so. Then counsel said the trial court would instruct them not to let bias of any kind — including gender bias — affect their…