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Coleman v. Alabama
Citations: 19 L. Ed. 2d 22; 88 S. Ct. 2; 389 U.S. 22; 1967 U.S. LEXIS 502Docket: 162 M
Court: Supreme Court of the United States; October 16, 1967; Federal Supreme Court; Federal Appellate Court
The Supreme Court granted Johnny Coleman's motion to proceed in forma pauperis and his petition for a writ of certiorari. The Court had previously remanded the case to address claims of systematic exclusion of African Americans from juries. Following an evidentiary hearing, it was established that no African Americans served on the grand jury that indicted Coleman or the petit jury that convicted him, and historically, very few had served in such roles in the county. This evidence constituted a prima facie case of denial of equal protection under the law, as outlined in precedent cases like Norris v. State of Alabama. The State failed to provide sufficient evidence to rebut this prima facie case. The Alabama Supreme Court acknowledged a disparity in jury representation but offered insufficient explanations, such as demographic changes and disqualifications due to felony convictions, which the Supreme Court found inadequate. Consequently, the Court reversed the judgment of the Alabama Supreme Court and remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with its opinion.