State v. Mayweather

Fletcher, Justice.

During jury selection in James Mayweather’s trial, the state requested that the trial court require, in accordance with Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U. S. 79 (106 SC 1712, 90 LE2d 69) (1986), the defense to provide race neutral reasons for having excused the first six jurors of one race. The trial court ordered Mayweather to do so. Defense counsel presented a brief response as to one of the six jurors at issue, did not attempt to articulate reasons for any of the other six jurors, and eventually admitted that he did not have racially neutral reasons for any of the six.

The trial…