People v. Rooseveltause

Defendant, A.R. Rooseveltause, appeals from a decision of the circuit court finding that the State had not systematically excluded African-Americans from the jury at defendant’s trial. Defendant was convicted of the rape of a semi-comatose Caucasian female and sentenced to 30 years of imprisonment.

On appeal, defendant presents the following issues: (1) whether the trial court erred in finding that he had not established a prima facie case of purposeful discrimination; (2) whether the trial court erred in concluding that the State’s reasons for exercising its peremptory challenges were…