Opinion ID: 1743598
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: the state's exercise of peremptory strikes violates batson v. kentucky.

Text: ¶ 58. Spann is an African-American. The State used five of its twelve strikes against white members of the venire and seven of its strikes against black members of the venire, resulting in a jury of eleven whites and one black. After the State had exercised its peremptory challenges, the court requested that the State give raceneutral explanations for its strikes. The following exchange occurred: THE COURT: In light of the Batson challenges, number 5 was S1. Will you give me your reasoning behind it? MR. CARTER: First I would like to say for the record that a case hasn't been made. We had 12 strikes; we struck five of the Caucasian race and seven of the African-American. THE COURT: I understand the prima facie thing behind Batson, but since this is a capital case, out of an abundance of caution, I am not going to make them reach those prongs. Let's go with it. I understand what you are saying. Give me your reasons. The State proceeded to present explanations for each of its strikes against black jurors. The court expressly found that each explanation offered was race neutral. Spann argues that the trial court erred by failing to make an on-the-record factual determination as to the reasoning given for the strikes of each challenged juror. Spann contends that, in this regard, the trial court failed to comply with the requirements of Hatten v. State, 628 So.2d 294 (Miss.1993) (requiring that the trial court make an on-the-record factual determination of the merits of the reasons cited by the State for its use of peremptory challenges). To the contrary, as noted previously, the trial court made express, on-the-record, factual determinations as to the explanations offered by the State for each of its strikes. This contention is without merit. ¶ 59. Spann also argues that the State's explanations for three of the seven strikes against black jurors were not sufficiently race-neutral. The State gave as its race neutral explanation for striking potential juror Dennis L. Kendrid Dennis that she was acquainted with Spann's relatives and knew several of the witnesses. Spann argues that this is not a race-neutral explanation. This Court has condoned a peremptory challenge against a juror who was acquainted with the defendant's family. Porter v. State, 616 So.2d 899, 907 (Miss. 1993). The fact that a potential juror is familiar with witnesses is a logical concern, and has appropriately been held by our Court of Appeals to be a valid, race-neutral explanation for State's exercise of peremptory challenges. Salter v. State, 735 So.2d 1089, 1091 (Miss.Ct.App.1999). ¶ 60. The State gave as its race-neutral explanation for striking potential juror Lula May Barnes that she knew some of Spann's family members. Also, on Barnes's questionnaire she stated that she did not believe in the death penalty, but, during voir dire, stated that she did believe in the death penalty. Spann argues that these are not race-neutral explanations. As discussed above, the fact that Barnes was acquainted with members of Spann's family is a race-neutral explanation. See Porter, 616 So.2d at 907. Also, this Court included inconsistent statements in its listing of acceptable race-neutral explanations in Lockett v. State, 517 So.2d 1346, 1356 (Miss.1987) (citing Rodgers v. State, 725 S.W.2d 477, 480 (Tex. Ct.App.1987) (inconsistency between oral responses and juror's card)). ¶ 61. The State offered as its race-neutral explanation for striking potential juror Mary L. Brown that Brown was born in 1930 and thus might not be able to pay proper attention at trial due to he age. Included in Lockett 's list of acceptable race-neutral explanations is the age of a juror. Lockett, 517 So.2d at 1356 (citing Chambers v. State, 724 S.W.2d 440, 442 (Tex.Ct.App.1987)); Taitano v. State., 4 Va.App. 342, 358 S.E.2d 590 (1987); Also, this Court has accepted inattentiveness as a race-neutral explanation for the exercise of peremptory strikes. See Mack v. State, 650 So.2d 1289, 1299 (Miss.1994); Abram v. State, 606 So.2d 1015 (Miss.1992); Lockett, 517 So.2d at 1356-57 (citing United States v. Mathews, 803 F.2d 325, 331 (7th Cir.1986); Townsend v. State, 730 S.W.2d 24, 26 (Tex.Ct.App.1987)). Spann contends that the State's explanation was pretextual. This Court accords great deference to the trial court in determining whether the offered explanation is truly a race-neutral reason. McFarland v. State, 707 So.2d 166, 172 (Miss.1997) (citing Stewart v. State, 662 So.2d 552, 558 (1995)). Spann offered no explanation to rebut any of the reasons offered by the State as to Brown or any other juror, either before the trial court or in his argument to this Court. In determining whether a race-neutral explanation is pretextual, the burden remains with the opponent of the strike. Purkett v. Elem, 514 U.S. 765, 768, 115 S.Ct. 1769, 1771, 131 L.Ed.2d 834 (1995). Spann has made no effort to meet the burden of demonstrating that the State's explanations were pretextual.