Aldridge v. State

Judge Harold R. Banke.

A Colquitt County jury convicted Michael Aldridge of selling cocaine (OCGA § 16-13-30 (b)). As this conviction was his second, the trial court sentenced him to life in prison pursuant to OCGA § 16-13-30 (d). He appeals. Held:

1. Aldridge claims the trial court erred by rejecting his challenge to the State’s use of all its peremptory strikes against African-American women. On appeal, he claims the State offered insufficient reasons for striking four of those five venirewomen.

The State explained that the first strike was used against a woman who admitted during voir dire…