State v. Davis

Gregory, Chief Justice:

Appellant was convicted of murder and conspiracy and sentenced to death. We reverse and remand for a new trial.

JURY SELECTION

The Solicitor exercised four of his five peremptory strikes in selecting the regular jury panel and used one strike in selecting the alternates. All of the strikes were used against female black jurors. In response to appellant’s Batson 1 motion, the trial judge found a prima facie showing of discrimination. The Solicitor then offered reasons for the exercise of his strikes which the trial judge found race-neutral.

On appeal, appellant claims the…