Supreme Court to Hear Death Row Case Involving Racial Bias in Jury Selection

The case centers on a Black death row inmate from Mississippi and a prosecutor with a history of dismissing Black jurors.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 5:18pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic courtroom scene with a single chair and desk in the center, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually illustrating the contemplative and weighty nature of the judicial process.The Supreme Court's examination of racial bias in jury selection in a high-profile death penalty case reflects the ongoing struggle to ensure fairness and impartiality in the judicial system.Grenada Today

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Tuesday in a case involving a Black death row inmate from Mississippi, Terry Pitchford, who was convicted by a jury that was selected in a racially discriminatory manner. The case involves a now-retired prosecutor, Doug Evans, who has a history of dismissing Black jurors, and a judge, Joseph Loper, who failed to properly evaluate the prosecutor's race-neutral explanations for the dismissals. The Supreme Court has taken up the case, with seven of the current nine justices having been on the court when it overturned a similar conviction in a case involving the same prosecutor, trial judge, and state high court.

Why it matters

The Supreme Court's ruling in this case could have significant implications for how courts address claims of racial discrimination in jury selection, particularly in capital cases. The case also highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring fair and impartial juries, especially in cases involving defendants of color.

The details

In the 2004 killing of Reuben Britt, the owner of the Crossroads Grocery in Grenada, Mississippi, Pitchford, who was 18 at the time, was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. The case has been making its way through the court system for 20 years. In 2023, a U.S. District Judge overturned Pitchford's conviction, citing the trial judge's failure to properly evaluate the prosecutor's dismissal of Black jurors. However, a unanimous panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later reversed that ruling.

  • The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in the case on Tuesday, March 29, 2026.
  • Pitchford was convicted and sentenced to death in 2004, when he was 18 years old.
  • In 2023, a U.S. District Judge overturned Pitchford's conviction.
  • In 2023, a unanimous panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the District Judge's ruling.
  • The Supreme Court agreed to hear Pitchford's appeal in December 2025.

The players

Terry Pitchford

A Black death row inmate from Mississippi who was convicted of capital murder in 2004 and is now appealing his case to the Supreme Court.

Doug Evans

A now-retired prosecutor with a history of dismissing Black jurors for discriminatory reasons, who was involved in Pitchford's case as well as a previous case that was overturned by the Supreme Court.

Joseph Loper

The trial judge who allowed the dismissal of Black jurors in Pitchford's case and failed to properly evaluate the prosecutor's race-neutral explanations.

Brett Kavanaugh

A Supreme Court Justice who, in a previous case involving the same prosecutor, trial judge, and state high court, described the prosecutor's efforts to rid the jury of Black individuals as a 'relentless, determined effort.'

Michael P. Mills

The U.S. District Judge who overturned Pitchford's conviction in 2023, citing the trial judge's failure to properly evaluate the dismissal of Black jurors.

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What they’re saying

“The judge simply failed even to try to discharge that critical duty, despite the defense's efforts.”

— Joseph Perkovich, Pitchford's attorney

“The court merely believes that it should have been included in a 'totality of the circumstances' analysis of the issue.”

— Michael P. Mills, U.S. District Judge

What’s next

The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case on Tuesday, March 29, 2026. If Pitchford wins, he could be released or retried.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring fair and impartial juries, particularly in cases involving defendants of color. The Supreme Court's ruling could have significant implications for how courts address claims of racial discrimination in jury selection, especially in capital cases.