Toomer v. State

While I agree with Divisions 1, 3 and 4 of the majority opinion, I can agree only in judgment as to Division 2.1 must write separately because I disagree with the majority’s disapproval of the following cases: Walton v. State, 267 Ga. 713 (482 SE2d 330) (1997); Blair v. State, 267 Ga. 166 (476 SE2d 263) (1996); Turner v. State, 267 Ga. 149 *60(476 SE2d 252) (1996); and Veasey v. State, 311 Ga. App. 762 (717 SE2d 284) (2011). What the majority opinion finds unacceptable in these cases is language where the second step of the Batson analysis requires that the explanation given for a strike be…