Opinion ID: 1688754
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 20

Heading: the lower court erred in failing to sustain the motion of appellant to quash the petit jury panel because the jury selection process exercised by the state was discriminatory and unconstitutional.

Text: Appellant contends that he was denied a fair trial because the prosecution used its peremptory challenges to exclude blacks from the jury. All twelve challenges were exercised by the prosecution and the jury panel consisted of ten whites and two blacks. In passing upon the question of systematic exclusion of jurors (blacks here) and the exercise of peremptory challenges, this Court has steadfastly followed the rationale in Swain v. Alabama, 380 U.S. 202, 85 S.Ct. 824, 13 L.Ed.2d 759 (1965). See Belino v. State, 465 So.2d 1043 (Miss. 1985); and Booker v. State, 449 So.2d 209 (Miss. 1984). The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in Prejean v. Blackburn, 743 F.2d 1091 (5th Cir.1984), continued its adherence to Swain. We are not persuaded that the principle established in Swain and subsequent decisions should be rejected.