US EditionSupreme Court will hear appeal of Black death row inmate over racial bias in Mississippi jury makeup
The Supreme Court will decide if Mississippi courts wrongly dismissed Pitchford's racial discrimination claim in jury selection by a prosecutor with a history of such conduct.
- On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Terry Pitchford's appeal, taking up his May 2025 petition after considering it at eight consecutive conferences.
- At his 2006 trial in Grenada County, Mississippi, prosecutors led by Doug Evans struck four Black jurors, leaving one Black person on the final jury, Pitchford contends under Batson v. Kentucky.
- U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills granted post-conviction relief citing trial problems and Doug Evans' prior conduct, but the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit reversed and reinstated the conviction.
- The case will likely be argued in March or April with a decision by late June or early July, centering on whether Pitchford forfeited his Batson claim under Mississippi Supreme Court waiver rules.
- The case draws national attention because it involves Doug Evans, former Grenada County prosecutor linked to the 2019 Curtis Flowers reversal, and Terry Pitchford's nearly two-decade-old death sentence.
43 Articles
43 Articles
Supreme Court to hear death row inmate's challenge of racial bias in jury
The Supreme Court announced on Monday it will take up a death row inmate’s challenge over allegations that the dismissal of four black jurors during his trial was unlawful, adding to the justices’ caseload for the current term. The high court said it
Supreme Court to take up Mississippi death row inmate's challenge over excluding Black jurors
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to take up a legal battle out of Mississippi in which a prosecutor is alleged to have excluded Black jurors in a trial to win a death sentence against an 18-year-old Black murder defendant.
Supreme Court to review Mississippi case on alleged omission of Black jurors
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to review the conviction of a death-row inmate in Mississippi who says prosecutors discriminated by excluding Black jurors during his 2006 trial.
Court to hear case on racial discrimination in jury selection
The Supreme Court on Monday morning agreed to take up the case of a Mississippi man who contends that he was sentenced to death in violation of the Constitution’s ban on racial discrimination in jury selection. Pitchford v. Cain is the only case from the justices’ Dec. 12 conference in which they’ve granted review so far. The court did not act on several high-profile petitions that it considered last Friday, including challenges to state laws ba…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 59% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
