By Addison Green
October 9, 2029
AUSTIN, TEX. — The New Confederate Supreme Court ruled yesterday that prosecutors may remove all people of color from juries without violating a defendant’s rights.
“Our Constitution does not privilege one race over another. Black jurors are afforded no special treatment not afforded to White ones and, as a consequence, they have no unique entitlement to remain on criminal juries,” wrote Chief Justice James Ho.
In an assault case arising from Clarendon County, S.C. pre-secession, the prosecutor struck five Black jurors in a row before arriving at an all-White jury. Jurors convicted defendant Chester Thomas, who is Black. He asserted that the racial makeup of the jury violated his rights to equal protection and due process.
The South Carolina Supreme Court originally ordered a new trial. But following secession, and under the New Confederate Constitution, the federal Supreme Court concluded that those guarantees no longer guard against all-White juries.
“Any competent lawyer would want to shape the jury in a way that is favorable to his client. It is not our place to dictate the color of a particular jury any more than we can dictate that trial counsel may not strike left-handed jurors or jurors with birthdays in the spring,” wrote Ho.
Leave a Reply