State v. Anderson

Appellant was convicted of grand larceny and sentenced to six (6) years’ imprisonment. We reverse.

At trial, over objection, the court limited appellant to five peremptory challenges to prospective jurors. She exhausted her five challenges before the jury selection was completed and did not try to assert a sixth peremptory strike.

By statute, one arraigned on a charge of grand larceny is “entitled to peremptory challenges not exceeding ten . . .” S. C. Code of Laws § 14-7-1110 (1976). We construe this language to mean a grand larceny defendant shall be allotted a full ten peremptory strikes.…