Should racial bias in jury selection be grounds for overturning a criminal conviction?

Context

Jury selection in criminal trials involves attorneys questioning potential jurors to identify bias. The question of whether racial discrimination during this process—known as Batson challenges—should overturn convictions has become increasingly contentious, with civil rights advocates arguing that systemic racial bias in jury composition undermines fair trials, while others worry about reopening settled cases. A May 2026 Supreme Court decision sided with a Mississippi death row inmate on racial bias grounds, reigniting debate over remedies for discriminatory jury selection.