Racist Views of Jurors Not Sufficient to Overturn Death Sentence

A Black death row inmate who killed his White wife failed to convince the Fifth Circuit on Friday to grant habeas relief after he alleged his conviction by an all-White jury was improper because some jurors expressed opposition to interracial marriage.

Andre Lee Thomas purportedly broke into the apartment of his estranged wife and killed her, her daughter, and their 4-year-old son by stabbing them to death. Thomas, who also attempted to remove his victims’ hearts, went to the local police station to confess to the crimes.

Thomas was indicted in June 2004 and, while awaiting trial, he removed one ...