Russell v. State

Birdsong, Presiding Judge.

Derrick Russell appeals his conviction of armed robbery in violation of OCGA § 16-8-41. He enumerates six errors. Held:

1. The record reveals that appellant was not present during proceedings conducted in chambers. During these proceedings, the voir dire of certain jurors took place in the presence of the judge, the prosecutor and appellant’s counsel, and the State raised an objection to the defense’s use of peremptory challenges to strike prospective jurors purely on racial grounds. The voir dire of prospective jurors is a “critical stage of the proceedings” at which…