Robert Nathaniel Jones v. State

OPINION

J. BRETT BUSBY, Justice.

Appellant Robert Nathaniel Jones challenges his felony conviction for possessing a controlled substance, arguing in his first issue that the State peremptorily struck an African-American veniremember in violation of Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986). He contends that the trial court erred in denying his Batson challenge because the State’s explanation for striking an African-American veniremember applied with identical force to three non-African-American veniremembers who ultimately served on the jury.

The State explained that,…