Supreme Court sides with Black death row inmate who alleged discrimination
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Terry Pitchford, a Black death row inmate from Mississippi, who claimed racial discrimination in jury selection. The decision, which was a narrow 5-4 ruling, found that the trial court failed to properly address the Batson v. Kentucky framework regarding the exclusion of Black jurors. Pitchford's conviction for capital murder may now be invalidated, allowing for a potential retrial by the state.
- ▪The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of Terry Pitchford, who alleged racial discrimination in jury selection.
- ▪Pitchford's case involved the exclusion of four out of five potential Black jurors during his trial.
- ▪The trial court's acceptance of the prosecutor's reasons for excluding jurors was deemed insufficient under the Batson framework.
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Politics Supreme Court sides with Black death row inmate who alleged racial discrimination in jury selection By Melissa Quinn Melissa Quinn Senior Reporter, Politics Melissa Quinn is a senior reporter for CBSNews.com, where she covers U.S. politics, with a focus on the Supreme Court and federal courts. Read Full Bio Melissa Quinn Updated on: May 28, 2026 / 2:59 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google Washington — The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favor of a Black death row inmate from Mississippi who argued racial discrimination during the jury-selection process before his trial.The high court divided 5-4 in siding with Terry Pitchford, with Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joining the three liberal justices in the majority.
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