Supreme Court of Delaware

Waples v. State

April 28, 2023

Summary

The Court affirmed the Superior Court’s determination that the State did not violate Batson by striking the only Black prospective juror. Even assuming Waples made a prima facie showing, the prosecutor offered a race-neutral explanation based on the juror’s criminal convictions, and Waples failed to prove purposeful discrimination. The Court held that the Superior Court’s factual finding was not clearly erroneous.