Death Row inmate Allen Snyder was convicted and sentenced to death for murdering his wife's lover in 1996. On March 19, 2008 the Supreme Courted threw out the conviction and death sentence because the prosecutor in the 1996 case excluded blacks from the jury, and the presiding judge at the time should not have accepted the exclusion. Justice Samuel Alito found the excuses of the prosecutor implausible. One particular example in Alito's opinion was the exclusion of Jeffrey Brooks from jury. Mr. Brooks dismissed because he expressed concern that along trial would interfere with his college studies. But the prosecutor did not re-seat him when Mr. Brooks dean said he could serve his jury duty and his schedule would be adjusted. In contrast, the prosecutor did not release white jurors in similar situations. Snyder's jury consisted of all white jurors. In addition the prosecutor in the murder case used the O.J. Simpson trial to draw a parallel, suggesting that a black man had gotten away with committing murder, and help win a death sentence against Snyder.
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
Snyder plead not guilty by reason of insanity
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Fact:
Court ruled seven to two in favor of overturning Allen Snyder's conviction
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Fact:
Snyder stabbed his estranged wife's date to death as they sat in a parked car on August 16, 1995
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Supreme Court referred to 1986 ruling [http
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batson_v._Kentucky Baston v. Kentcky] which requires prosecutors to give 'race neutral' explanation of racial jury selection
