In 1986, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that prosecutors could not use peremptory challenges of prospective jurors — challenges for which no cause need be offered — to exclude individuals because of their race.» (howappealing.abovethelaw.com)
On the first day of trial in Jefferson Circuit Court, the judge conducted voir dire examination of the venire, excused certain jurors for cause, and permitted the parties to [p83] exercise peremptory challenges. (law.cornell.edu)
The Court now rules that such use of peremptory challenges in a given case may, but does not necessarily, raise an inference, which the prosecutor carries the burden of refuting, [p101] that his strikes were based on the belief that no black citizen could be a satisfactory juror or fairly try a black defendant. (law.cornell.edu)