United States Fourth Circuit

Striking a white juror who admitted to having a confederate flag bumper sticker on his car does not violate Batson because racism on the part of the juror is a permissible, persuasive, race-neutral inference in the context of a peremptory challenge under the Equal Protection Clause.

Appellate Information

• Argued 02/28/2001
• Decided 05/18/2001
• Published 05/18/2001

Judges

• Before WIDENER, NIEMEYER, and LUTTIG, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Fourth Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellees:
  
• ARGUED:James Edward Bell, III, Law Firm of J. Edward Bell, III, L.L.C., Sumter, SC, for Appellant. Thomas Ernest Booth, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Appellee. ON BRIEF:  James K. Robinson, Assistant Attorney General, Richard C. Pilger, United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC, for Appellee.