Opinion ID: 1791456
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: whether the circuit court erred in overruling jones' objections to the state's use of peremptory strikes.

Text: ¶ 16. Jones, an African-American, complains that the State's exercise of its first three peremptory strikes against African-Americans shows racial bias by the State in violation of Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986). The circuit court held that no pattern of racial discrimination had been shown inasmuch as the State did not object to four other African-Americans who ultimately served on the jury. ¶ 17. To establish a prima facie case alleging that a jury represents an unfair cross-section of the community, Jones must demonstrate: (1) that the group alleged to be excluded is a `distinctive' group in the community; (2) that the representation of this group in venires from which juries are selected is not fair and reasonable in relation to the number of such persons in the community; and (3) that this underrepresentation is due to systematic exclusion of the group in the jury-selection process. Gray v. State, 887 So.2d 158, 165 (Miss.2004) (citing Lanier v. State, 533 So.2d 473, 477 (Miss.1988).) ¶ 18. We find that Jones has failed to prove that the State used its peremptory strikes in a discriminatory manner. Most problematic is the fact that Jones failed to preserve the record for the voir dire. We do not know the racial composition of the venire. We do not know the racial composition of the jury. We do not know the racial composition of Tate County. However, we do know, as both Jones and the State agree, that the State used peremptory strikes against three African-Americans and that four African-Americans were seated on the jury. We cannot say that these bare facts created a reasonable inference of purposeful discrimination or that the State attempted to systematically remove African-Americans from the venire. This claim is without merit.