Opinion ID: 1058076
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Phyllis McKinnie

Text: Defense counsel objected to the State's challenge of Ms. McKinnie, stating that she was the sixth African-American struck by the State. The State had lodged five peremptory challenges prior to challenging Ms. McKinnie. The State referred to Ms. McKinnie's statement on her questionnaire that she just [does not] want to be a part of putting any person to death because it could turn out to be an innocent person after you have put him or her to death. The prosecutor also averred that all six of the individuals [he] struck [had] indicated on the back of their jury questionnaires they would have a problem with the death penalty. Defense counsel claimed that Ms. McKinnie had been rehabilitated. The trial court found that the State had established a racially neutral reason for its challenge and overruled the objection.