COFFEE v. the STATE.

Bethel, Judge.

*443 This case turns on a fundamental principle essential to ensuring fair jury trials in Georgia. Our general rule is that a criminal defendant is entitled to a full panel of qualified jurors to which to direct his peremptory strikes. Because this case involves allegations of theft from Walmart 1 and the trial court declined to excuse for cause one of Walmart's shareholders, we reverse.

"On appeal from a criminal conviction, the evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, and the defendant no longer enjoys the presumption of innocence." State v. Robinson , 275 Ga.…