State v. Watkins

LARSON, Justice.

Charles D. Watkins, who is black, was tried for kidnapping and theft. After the jury was selected and sworn, and before opening statements, Watkins unsuccessfully requested a hearing to determine whether there had been a systematic effort to exclude blacks from the jury panel. He claimed that his sixth amendment rights were violated by the State’s failure to provide him a jury panel representing a fair cross section of the community. Watkins was convicted.

We hold it was error to deny Watkins’ request for a hearing but cannot finally dispose of the case on the present state of…