Rutledge v. State

Broderick Tyrone Rutledge, the appellant, was convicted of robbery in the first degree and sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment. He raises three issues on this direct appeal from that conviction.

I

The appellant contends that the prosecutor violated the principles of Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712,90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986), and Ex parte Branch, 526 So.2d 609 (Ala. 1987), in striking veniremember A.B. The prosecution struck three of the nine blacks on the jury venire. Six blacks served on the 13-member jury. The prosecutor's reason for striking all three blacks, including A.B., was…