Allen v. Hardy

478 U.S. 255 (1986)

ALLEN

v.

HARDY ET AL.

No. 85-6593.

Supreme Court of United States.

Decided June 30, 1986

ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT

In 1978, petitioner Earl Allen, a black man, was indicted for murdering his girl friend and her brother. During selection of the petit jurors at petitioner's trial, the prosecutor exercised 9 of the State's 17 peremptory challenges to strike 7 black and 2 Hispanic veniremen. Defense counsel moved to discharge the jury on the ground that the " `State's use of peremptory challenges undercut…