The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday in a Mississippi death penalty case centered on allegations of racial bias in jury selection. The case involves Terry Pitchford, a Black death row inmate who was convicted of capital murder in 2006.

During Pitchford's trial, prosecutor Doug Evans, who has since retired, removed all but one Black person from the jury pool through peremptory strikes. The defense objected to these strikes, arguing they constituted racial discrimination in violation of constitutional protections.

Trial judge Joseph Loper allowed the prosecutor's strikes to stand despite the defense objections. Pitchford was subsequently convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death. The Mississippi Supreme Court later upheld the conviction and sentence.

The case raises significant legal questions about the Batson v. Kentucky standard, which prohibits prosecutors from using peremptory challenges to exclude jurors based solely on race. Under Batson, prosecutors must provide race-neutral explanations for striking potential jurors when challenged.

Based on the justices' questions and comments during oral arguments, court observers suggested the Supreme Court appeared skeptical of how the jury selection process was conducted in Pitchford's case. The court is expected to issue its ruling in the coming months.

The case represents one of several recent Supreme Court cases examining racial bias in the criminal justice system, particularly in death penalty proceedings where the composition of juries can significantly impact outcomes.