Title: Phillips v. State

State: delaware

Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court

Document:

813 A.2d 1112 (Del. 2003).
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IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
ALVIN PHILLIPS,
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No. 195, 2005
Defendant Below,
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Appellant,
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v.
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Court Below: Superior Court
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of the State of Delaware
STATE OF DELAWARE,
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in and for New Castle County
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Cr. I.D. No. 0408028860
Plaintiff Below,
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Appellee.
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Submitted: October 26, 2005
Decided: November 28, 2005
Before BERGER, JACOBS and RIDGELY, Justices.
O R D E R
This 28  day of November, 2005, on consideration of the briefs of the parties,
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it appears to the Court that:
1) Alvin Phillips appeals from his convictions, following a jury trial, of first
degree carjacking and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a
felony.  His sole argument is that the trial court erred in refusing to give a jury voir
dire question concerning possible racial bias. Phillips is African-American and the
carjacking victim is white.  Consistent with our holding in Filmore v. State , we
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conclude that the trial court was required to ask the potential jurors about racial
prejudice.  Accordingly, we reverse.
558 A.2d 278, 282-83 (Del. 1989).
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2) On August 29, 2004, Kurt Charles stopped at a gas station on Route 13 to
purchase a bottle of water.  He saw Phillips and the store clerk arguing.  When Charles
returned to his car, Phillips approached the driver’s side and showed Charles a
handgun that was tucked in his waistband.  Phillips then got into Charles’s car and
ordered Charles to drive him to two locations in Wilmington.  Phillips left the car at
both stops, but Charles did not attempt to drive away.  After the second stop, Phillips
told Charles to drive him back to the gas station.  Phillips got out, and Charles drove
away.  Phillips was arrested at a motel near the gas station.  No gun was recovered.
3) Before jury selection began, Phillips asked the trial court to question the
prospective jurors about racial bias.  The trial court noted that there were no racial
overtones to this incident, and ruled that the mere fact that a defendant is African-
American and a victim is white is not enough reason to ask a voir dire question on
racial bias.  Phillips was convicted and sentenced as a habitual offender.  This appeal
followed.
4) In Feddiman v. State,  this Court held that trial courts must ask potential
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jurors about racial bias under the facts presented here.  More recently, in Filmore v.
State, this Court stated:
If for some reason our holding in Feddiman seems unclear, we
announce the following bright line rule: Our view that Article I Section 7
813 A.2d 1112, 1117 (Del. 2003).
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of the Delaware Constitution calls for the “essential demands of fairness”
requires that the trial judge question prospective jurors about racial
prejudice when: (1) the defendant stands accused of a violent crime; (2)
the defendant and victim are members of different racial groups; and (3)
the defense attorney specifically requests the trial court to question the
jurors during voir dire concerning potential racial prejudice.3
5) Phillips satisfied all of the Feddiman requirements.  We reject the State’s
contention that, because Charles was not injured during the carjacking, the crime was
not a violent crime for purposes of this analysis.  Carjacking is denominated a violent
crime and, in this case, Phillips used a gun to threaten his victim. 
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the judgment of the Superior
Court be, and the same hereby is, REVERSED.  This matter is REMANDED for a
new trial.  Jurisdiction is not retained.
BY THE COURT:
/s/ Carolyn Berger
Justice