Mississippi Death Row Inmate Granted New Trial Over Racial Bias in Jury Selection

Judge Michael P. Mills overturns Terry Pitchford's conviction, citing insufficient opportunity for defense to argue against the dismissal of Black jurors.

• Terry Pitchford, a Black man on death row in Mississippi, has been granted a new trial by U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills, who overturned his death penalty conviction.
• The judge found that the trial judge did not give Pitchford's defense lawyer enough opportunity to argue that Black jurors were being dismissed for discriminatory reasons.
• The decision was influenced by the history of former District Attorney Doug Evans, who has been accused of discriminating against Black jurors.
• Pitchford was convicted for his role in the 2004 fatal robbery of Crossroads Grocery. His friend, Eric Bullins, shot the store owner while Pitchford fired shots into the floor.
• The state of Mississippi has been ordered to retry Pitchford within six months, or he must be released from custody.

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