Speights v. State

POLEN, Judge.

Joseph Speights appeals his conviction for aggravated assault, armed robbery, grand theft auto and resisting arrest without violence. We reverse, finding the trial court erred by failing to accept the defendant’s race neutral explanation for a peremptory challenge.

During the voir dire phase of the trial, the defense moved to strike Ernie Chipman, a white male, from the jury panel. The state objected, claiming Speights was using peremptory challenges in a racially discriminatory manner. When pressed by the court for an explanation, Speights cited Mr. Chipman’s extensive jury…