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State of Missouri vs. Bennie Alford

Date: 02-15-2017

Case Number: ED104176

Judge: James M. Dowd

Court: In the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District

Plaintiff's Attorney:

Christine Lesicko

Defendant's Attorney:

Randall Brachman

Description:

Bennie Alford appeals the judgment entered upon his conviction following a jury trial in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis of two counts of the class C felony of possession of a controlled substance, to wit heroin and clonazepam, on April 27, 2015. In his sole point on appeal, Alford contends that the trial court clearly erred in overruling his challenge under Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986) and its progeny to the State’s peremptory strike of Venireperson 13, an African-American former St. Louis public school teacher.

Outcome:

The trial court did not clearly err in overruling Alford’s Batson challenge because Alford failed to carry his burden under the third step of Missouri’s threestep Batson procedure to demonstrate that the State’s avowed reason for striking Venireperson 13 was a pretext for racial discrimination. Thus, Alford’s failure in the third step of his Batson challenge to put anything into the record or make any argument regarding pretext doomed his challenge.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments:

About This Case

What was the outcome of State of Missouri vs. Bennie Alford?

The outcome was: The trial court did not clearly err in overruling Alford’s Batson challenge because Alford failed to carry his burden under the third step of Missouri’s threestep Batson procedure to demonstrate that the State’s avowed reason for striking Venireperson 13 was a pretext for racial discrimination. Thus, Alford’s failure in the third step of his Batson challenge to put anything into the record or make any argument regarding pretext doomed his challenge.

Which court heard State of Missouri vs. Bennie Alford?

This case was heard in In the Missouri Court of Appeals Eastern District, MO. The presiding judge was James M. Dowd.

Who were the attorneys in State of Missouri vs. Bennie Alford?

Plaintiff's attorney: Christine Lesicko. Defendant's attorney: Randall Brachman.

When was State of Missouri vs. Bennie Alford decided?

This case was decided on February 15, 2017.