Opinion ID: 1839020
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: the prosecutor's use of peremptory strikes to exclude potential black jurors violated the sixth and fourteenth amendments to the united states constitution

Text: Mackbee, a black defendant, relies on Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986), and insists that the prosecutor improperly used his peremptories in striking black jurors from the venire. Accord Davis v. State, 551 So.2d 165 (Miss. 1989); Chisolm v. State, 529 So.2d 635 (Miss. 1988); Conerly v. State, 544 So.2d 1370 (Miss. 1989). After timely objecting to these objections, the trial judge gave the prosecutor an opportunity to explain each challenge. After evaluating the explanations given and the evidence before him, the trial judge made a finding, inter alia, that the prosecutor gave sound and non-racial reasons for each black juror, who was struck. (Vol. III, T. 222-23). After reviewing the record and the briefs in this case, we support the trial judge's findings. Because a trial judge's findings on issues such as these are accorded great deference and will not be reversed unless they are clearly erroneous or against overwhelming weight of the evidence, see, Lockett v. State, 517 So.2d 1346, 1350 (Miss. 1987), we reject this assignment.