Document: 332 U.S. 463 68 S.Ct. 184 92 L.Ed. 76 PATTONv.STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. No. 122. Argued Nov. 21—24, 1947. Decided Dec. 8, Mandate Conformed to Jan. 26, 1948. See 33 So.2d 456. Mr. Thurgood Marshall, of New York City, for petitioner. George H. Ethridge, Jackson, Miss., respondent. Justice BLACK delivered the opinion Court. 1 The petitioner, a Negro, was indicted in Circuit Court Lauderdale County, Mississippi, by an all-white grand jury, charged with murder white man. He convicted petit jury and sentenced death electrocution. had filed timely motion quash indictment alleging that, although there were Negroes county qualified service, venires term from which juries selected did not contain name single negro. Failure have any on venires, he alleged, due fact that great number years previously during then court been 'systematic, intentional, deliberate invariable practice part administrative officers exclude lists, boxes such has resulted does now result denial equal protection laws this defendant as guaranteed 14th amendment Constitution.' In support his petitioner introduced evidence showed without contradiction no Negro served or criminal thirty more. There once summoned period but some undisclosed reason served, nor even appeared. And so one supervisor had, at indefinite time, placed lists names 'two three' unidentified Negroes. 1940 adult colored population according United States Census, 12,511 out total 34,821. 2 face foregoing trial overruled quash. Supreme Mississippi affirmed over petitioner's renewed insistence denied exclusion him. 29 96. We granted certiorari review serious contention.1 331 804, 67 1757. 3 Sixty-seven ago held state solely because their race defendants cases required Fourteenth Amendment. Strauder v. State West Virginia, 1880, 100 303, 25 664. A long unbroken line our decisions since reiterated principle, regardless whether discrimination embodied statute2 apparent practices selection officials,3 system depriving rights 'ingenious ingenuous.'4 4 Whether systematic racial officials jurors is question be determined facts each particular case. case concluded failed prove jurors, concluding it erroneously considered only venire drawn petitioner.5 It regarded irrelevant key more juries. This omission seriously detracts weight respect we would otherwise give its conclusion reviewing facts, must constitutional like this.6 5 noted indisputable created very strong showing th t systematically excluded service race.7 When made, became duty try justify having brought about other than discrimination. conclude, offer evidence, make claim, abandoned old practices. Court's justification rested upon following reasoning. Section 1762 Code enumerates qualifications most important apparently are male citizen 'a elector.' Sections 241, 242, 243 244 constitution set forth prerequisites electors. Among things these provisions require elector shall pay annual poll tax, produce satisfactory proof payment, able read section constitution, understand same when him, reasonable interpretation thereof. small citizens (the estimated 25) compared citizens, met requirements electors, thereby become eligible under additional tests service. On subject said (29 96, 98): 6 'Of negro electors left, therefore, those exempt, 12 13 available 5,500 6,000 whom, after deducting 500 1,000 leave proportion 5,000 nonexempt one-fourth per cent 400 1. * For reasons already heretofore stated chance appear sheriff, negro, discriminate against negroes,—he could expected bring negro.'8 7 above statement illustrates unwisdom attempting disprove percentage calculations applied composition venire.9 8 here points certain legislative record evidence10 claimed can take judicial notice, asserted establishes why few them making up registration lists. But need consider clear County list. fact, 1945, circuit clerk county, who himself duties administering system, sent eight commissioner Federal District federal Moreover, several hundred whatever precise w re some; if possibly conceived all disqualified commission crime, habitual drunkenness, gambling, inability write meet statutory do doubt proved it.11 9 hold wholly purposeful made uncontradicted juror courts County. plan, is, operates way always complete long-continued representative large group negroes, group, indictments verdicts returned thus cannot stand. As pointed Hill Texas, 316 400, 406, 62 1159, 1162, 86 1559, holding mean guilty go free. convictions obtained Constitution commands. 10 judgment reversed remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion. 11 Reversed. Petitioner also argued conviction based extorted confession; use confession him process law; should reason. view makes unnecessary pass alleged confession. Bush Commonwealth Kentucky, 107 110, 122, 625, 635, 27 354. Ex parte 339, 676; Neal Delaware, 103 370, 26 567; Carter 177 442, 20 687, 44 839; Rogers Alabama, 192 226, 24 257, 48 417; Norris 294 587, 55 579, 79 1074; Hollins Oklahoma, 295 394, 784, 1500; Hale 303 613, 58 753, 82 1050; Pierre Louisiana, 306 354, 59 536, 83 757; Smith 311 128, 61 164, 85 84; 1559. 132, 166, 84. Akins 325 398, 403, 65 1276, 1279, 89 1692. 590, 580, 358, 538, 402, 1278, 1692; Fay People York, 261, 272, 1613, 1619. 397, 591, 361, 540, 757. Although latter reference special drawn, reasoning grounds excluding jury. Hearings before Special Committee Investigate Senatorial Campaign Expenditures, 1946, 79th Cong., 2d Sess. (1947). 404, 405, 1161,

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