Chamberlin V. Fisher (“Chamberlin I”), No
Case: 15-70012 Document: 00514394080 Page: 1 Date Filed: 03/20/2018 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT United States Court of Appeals Fifth Circuit No. 15-70012 FILED March 20, 2018 LISA JO CHAMBERLIN, Lyle W. Cayce Clerk Petitioner - Appellee v. MARSHALL L. FISHER, COMMISSIONER, MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, Respondent - Appellant Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi Before STEWART, Chief Judge, and JOLLY, DAVIS, JONES, SMITH, DENNIS, CLEMENT, PRADO, OWEN, ELROD, SOUTHWICK, HAYNES, HIGGINSON, and COSTA, Circuit Judges.1 EDITH BROWN CLEMENT, Circuit Judge, joined by JOLLY, JONES, SMITH, OWEN, ELROD, SOUTHWICK, HAYNES, and HIGGINSON, Circuit Judges: Lisa Jo Chamberlin participated in a heinous double murder in Mississippi. A jury convicted her of two counts of capital murder. She was 1 Judge Jolly, now a Senior Judge of this court, participated in the consideration of this en banc case. Judge Graves is recused and did not participate in this decision. Judges Willett and Ho also did not participate in this decision. Case: 15-70012 Document: 00514394080 Page: 2 Date Filed: 03/20/2018 No. 15-70012 sentenced to death. Chamberlin, who is white, appealed her conviction, arguing in part that the prosecution invidiously discriminated against black prospective jurors during jury selection at her trial in violation of Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79 (1986). Her appeal made its way through the Mississippi court system, where it was denied at every stage. She then turned to federal court, petitioning for a writ of habeas corpus. The district court granted Chamberlin’s petition and ordered the State to give her a new trial, finding that the Mississippi Supreme Court erred when it concluded that the prosecution did not discriminate against black prospective jurors at Chamberlin’s jury selection.
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