(concurring in result only in a separate opinion).
I VOTE to REVERSE the convictions and sentences of Willie Cochran and Reggie James (collectively, Appellants) because of the error committed by the circuit judge in violat*326ing Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986).
The Appellants were convicted of first degree burglary. Additionally, Appellant James was convicted of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. Appellants appeal from the trial court’s finding that six of their ten peremptory challenges violated Batson v. Kentucky. Although Appellants offered race-neutral reasons for their peremptory challenges, the trial judge found their reasons were mere pretext to engage in purposeful racial discrimination. Appellants claim the trial judge erred in granting the State’s Batson motion.
The conduct of a Batson hearing by a circuit judge is an intricate and labyrinthine trial procedure. Ofttimes, the circuit judge is presented with evidentiary conundrums emanating from the analysis of the factual and legal posture of the prospective juror. The body of law extant in regard to rulings made by a trial judge in a Batson hearing reveals luculently that the appellate court must give deferential treatment to the trial judge on review. The appellate court has the luxury of lengthy cogitation and rumination whereas the circuit judge rules in- a trial setting not allowing for lengthy deliberation and delay.
FACTUALIPROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
During jury selection, Appellants, African-American men, used ten of their twenty peremptory challenges on two black women, three white men, and five white women. The State opposed Appellants’ strikes and requested a Batson hearing. At the Batson hearing, the trial judge found the race-neutral reasons offered by Appellants for their peremptory challenges were mere pretext to exclude jurors on the basis of race. The judge granted the State’s Batson motion, quashed the first jury, and drew a second one.
During the second jury selection, the State used four of its five peremptory challenges on a black man and three black women. Appellants opposed all four of the State’s strikes and requested a Batson hearing. At this Batson hearing, the State offered race-neutral reasons for its peremptory challenges and the trial judge found the State’s reasons were not pretextual. The trial judge denied Appellants’ Batson motion *327and impaneled the jury. The second jury was comprised of two of the six jurors Appellants struck from the first jury, which the trial judge found violated Batson. These two jurors participated in the deliberations and verdict.
STANDARD OF REVIEW
In determining whether a party exercised strikes in violation of Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986), the appellate court must examine the totality of the facts and circumstances in the record surrounding the strikes. State v. Shuler, 344 S.C. 604, 545 S.E.2d 805 (2001). The trial judge’s findings regarding purposeful discrimination in the exercise of peremptory strikes rest largely on evaluation of demeanor and credibility. Southerland v. State, 337 S.C. 610, 524 S.E.2d 833 (1999); State v. Tucker, 334 S.C. 1, 512 S.E.2d 99 (1999). Often the demeanor of the challenged attorney will be the best and only evidence of discrimination. Hernandez v. New York, 500 U.S. 352, 111 S.Ct. 1859, 114 L.Ed.2d 395 (1991); Shuler, 344 S.C. at 615-16, 545 S.E.2d at 810. Furthermore, a strike must be examined in light of the circumstances under which it is exercised, including an examination of the explanations offered for other strikes. Shuler, 344 S.C. at 616, 545 S.E.2d at 810-11.
The judge’s findings as to purposeful discrimination are entitled to great deference and will be set aside on appeal only if clearly erroneous. State v. Haigler, 334 S.C. 623, 515 S.E.2d 88 (1999); State v. Adams, 322 S.C. 114, 470 S.E.2d 366 (1996). A finding is clearly erroneous if it is not supported by the record. Shuler, 344 S.C. at 619, 545 S.E.2d at 813. Where the record does not support the trial court’s findings, the findings must be overturned. State v. Ford, 334 S.C. 59, 512 S.E.2d 500 (1999).
LAW/ANALYSIS
Appellants contend the trial judge erred in finding their peremptory challenges violated Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U.S. 79, 106 S.Ct. 1712, 90 L.Ed.2d 69 (1986).
*328 BATSON HEARING
The purposes of Batson v. Kentucky and its progeny are to protect the defendant’s right to a fair trial by a jury of his peers, protect each venireperson’s right not to be excluded from jury service for discriminatory reasons, and preserve public confidence in the fairness of the justice system by seeking to eradicate discrimination in the jury selection process. State v. Haigler, 334 S.C. 623, 515 S.E.2d 88 (1999); State v. Flynn, 368 S.C. 83, 627 S.E.2d 763 (Ct.App.2006). It is unconstitutional to strike a juror on the basis of race or gender. See J.E.B. v. Alabama, 511 U.S. 127, 114 S.Ct. 1419, 128 L.Ed.2d 89 (1994). The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the striking of a venireperson on the basis of race. State v. Shuler, 344 S.C. 604, 545 S.E.2d 805 (2001); Haigler, 334 S.C. at 628, 515 S.E.2d at 90. “Purposeful racial discrimination in selection of the venire violates a defendant’s right to equal protection because it denies him the protection that a trial by jury is intended to secure.” Batson, 476 U.S. at 86, 106 S.Ct. 1712. A criminal defendant may object to race-based peremptory challenges on equal protection grounds regardless of whether the defendant and potential juror share the same race. Powers v. Ohio, 499 U.S. 400, 111 S.Ct. 1364, 113 L.Ed.2d 411 (1991); Payton v. Kearse, 329 S.C. 51, 495 S.E.2d 205 (1998). Both the State and defendants are prohibited from discriminatorily exercising a peremptory challenge of a prospective juror. Georgia v. McCollum, 505 U.S. 42, 112 S.Ct. 2348, 120 L.Ed.2d 33 (1992).
A hearing held pursuant to Batson v. Kentucky is trifurcated. First, when one party strikes a member of a cognizable racial group, the circuit court must hold a Batson hearing if the opposing party requests one. Shuler, 344 S.C. at 615, 545 S.E.2d at 810; Haigler, 334 S.C. at 629, 515 S.E.2d at 90. In order to raise and preserve a Batson issue, the opposing party must move for the hearing after the jury is selected but before it is sworn. State v. Jones, 293 S.C. 54, 358 S.E.2d 701 (1987). This hearing must be held out of the presence of the jury panel and the jury venire. Id. Second, the proponent of the strike, to successfully rebut the presumption of a Batson violation, must then offer a facially race-neutral explanation for the strike. Haigler, 334 S.C. at 629, 515 S.E.2d at 90-91. *329Third, the opponent of the strike must show that the race-neutral explanation given was mere pretext. Id. at 629, 515 S.E.2d at 91; State v. Adams, 322 S.C. 114, 470 S.E.2d 366 (1996).
I. The Strike & Batson Request
The trial judge must hold a Batson hearing when members of a cognizable racial group are struck and the opposing party requests a hearing. State v. Tucker, 334 S.C. 1, 512 S.E.2d 99 (1999); State v. Jones, 293 S.C. 54, 358 S.E.2d 701 (1987). Any person, regardless of race, may set forth a Batson claim. State v. Chapman, 317 S.C. 302, 454 S.E.2d 317 (1995). Both the defendant and the State can make a Batson motion. See State v. Hicks, 330 S.C. 207, 499 S.E.2d 209 (1998).
Batson requires a hearing to allow a party the opportunity to make a prima facie showing of purposeful discrimination by challenging the other party’s use of a peremptory strike, and if such discrimination is found, the proponent of the strike has the opportunity to present a neutral explanation for the strike. Jones, 293 S.C. at 56-57, 358 S.E.2d at 702-03.
II. Explanation for the Strike
The proponent of the strike must offer a facially race-neutral explanation for the strike. State v. Haigler, 334 S.C. 623, 515 S.E.2d 88 (1999); Adams, 322 S.C. at 124, 470 S.E.2d at 372; State v. Smalls, 336 S.C. 301, 519 S.E.2d 793 (Ct.App.1999). The explanation need not be clear, reasonably specific, or legitimate; it only needs to be race-neutral. State v. Easler, 322 S.C. 333, 471 S.E.2d 745 (Ct.App.1996), aff'd as modified, 327 S.C. 121, 489 S.E.2d 617 (1997). The reason is not required to be persuasive or plausible and may even be silly or superstitious. Purkett v. Elem, 514 U.S. 765, 115 S.Ct. 1769, 131 L.Ed.2d 834 (1995); State v. Casey, 325 S.C. 447, 481 S.E.2d 169 (Ct.App.1997). While merely denying a discriminatory motive is insufficient, the proponent of the strike need only present race-neutral reasons. Casey, 325 S.C. at 451-52, 481 S.E.2d at 171-72. At this stage of the inquiry, the issue is the facial validity of the explanation. In State v. Adams, 322 S.C. 114, 470 S.E.2d 366 (1996), our supreme court adopted the procedure for the second step of the Batson analysis delineated in Purkett v. Elem:
*330“The second step of this process does not demand an explanation that is persuasive, or even plausible.... It is not until the third step that the persuasiveness of the justification becomes relevant — the step in which the trial court determines whether the opponent of the strike has carried his burden of proving purposeful discrimination. At that stage, implausible or fantastic justifications may (and probably will) be found to be pretexts for purposeful discrimination. But to say that a trial judge may choose to disbelieve a silly or superstitious reason'at step 3 is quite different from saying that a trial judge must terminate the inquiry at step 2 when the race-neutral reason is silly or superstitious. The latter violates the principle that the ultimate burden of persuasion regarding racial motivation rests with, and never shifts from, the opponent of the strike.”
Adams, 322 S.C. at 123-24, 470 S.E.2d at 371-72. Unless a discriminatory intent is inherent in the proponent’s explanation, the reason offered will be deemed race-neutral. State v. Tucker, 334 S.C. 1, 512 S.E.2d 99 (1999); Payton v. Kearse, 329 S.C. 51, 495 S.E.2d 205 (1998).
South Carolina rejected the dual motivation doctrine in the Batson context. Payton, 329 S.C. at 59-60, 495 S.E.2d at 210. We adopted the “tainted” approach whereby a discriminatory explanation for the exercise of a peremptory challenge will vitiate other nondiscriminatory explanations for the strike. Id.
A. Examples — Valid Reasons for Strike
1. Demeanor. Demeanor can be considered a racially neutral explanation. Counsel may strike venirepersons based on their demeanor and disposition. See Matthews v. Evatt, 105 F.3d 907 (4th Cir.1997) (holding the State is allowed to consider tone, demeanor, facial expression, and any other race-neutral factors when striking jurors); State v. Wilder, 306 S.C. 535, 413 S.E.2d 323 (1991) (two black males struck because they were late); State v. Wright, 304 S.C. 529, 405 S.E.2d 825 (1991) (stricken juror had disinterested attitude and demean- or); State v. Smalls, 336 S.C. 301, 309, 519 S.E.2d 793, 797 (Ct.App.1999) (finding no discriminatory intent inherent in defense counsel’s explanation for striking jurors who appeared *331to counsel as “looking in a ‘mean,’ ‘stern’ or ‘accusatory’ manner”); State v. Guess, 318 S.C. 269, 457 S.E.2d 6 (Ct.App.1995) (declaring solicitor could strike venireperson because of demeanor observed during qualification; juror appeared to be “slow”).
2. Recipient of prior strike. See Sumpter v. State, 312 S.C. 221, 439 S.E.2d 842 (1994) (“we find the solicitor’s additional explanation that he struck Mr. Wright because he had struck him earlier in the week is also race neutral”); Feddiman v. State, 558 A.2d 278 (Del.1989) (determining solicitor’s explanation was race-neutral where she struck a male juror and later struck a female juror with the same last name who lived at the same address because she was concerned that there would be some feeling against the State for striking the male juror).
3. Prior jury service. Recent prior jury service is a facially neutral reason for exercising a peremptory strike. State v. Casey, 325 S.C. 447, 481 S.E.2d 169 (Ct.App.1997).
4. Prior criminal conviction. A prior criminal conviction is a neutral reason to strike. Casey, 325 S.C. at 453 n. 2, 481 S.E.2d at 172 n. 2; see also Sumpter, 312 S.C. at 223-24, 439 S.E.2d at 844 (ruling solicitor’s explanation for striking a black venireperson was racially neutral where prospective juror had a prior DUI involvement).
5. Possible criminal record. State v. Martinez, 294 S.C. 72, 362 S.E.2d 641 (1987).
6. Prior prosecution by that particular Solicitor’s office. State v. Dyar, 317 S.C. 77, 452 S.E.2d 603 (1994); Sumpter, 312 S.C. at 223-24, 439 S.E.2d at 844.
7. Acquaintance with the trial judge. See State v. Adams, 322 S.C. 114, 470 S.E.2d 366 (1996) (noting a potential juror’s acquaintance with the trial judge is a valid reason for exercising a peremptory strike).
8. Relationship with attorney. An attorney’s personal knowledge of and relationship with a prospective juror is a race-neutral reason for exercising a peremptory strike. State v. Ford, 334 S.C. 59, 512 S.E.2d 500 (1999).
9. Relationship with law enforcement or pro-law enforcement attitude. A potential juror’s relationship with a law *332enforcement official, or a potential juror’s pro-law, enforcement attitude, is a race-neutral reason for exercising á peremptory strike. Ford, 334 S.C. at 65, 512 S.E.2d at 504; cf. State v. Richburg, 304 S.C. 162, 403 S.E.2d 315 (1991) (noting State’s explanation that juror was anti-law enforcement was race-neutral).
10. Knowledge of and association with defendant. State v. Johnson, 302 S.C. 243, 395 S.E.2d 167 (1990).
11. Unemployment. Unemployment is a race-neutral reason for a strike. State v. Green, 306 S.C. 94, 409 S.E.2d 785 (1991).
12. Place or type of employment. It is legitimate to strike potential jurors because of their employment. Ford, 334 S.C. at 65, 512 S.E.2d at 504; see also Adams, 322 S.C. at 125, 470 S.E.2d at 372 (finding potential juror’s employment as a court reporter is a valid reason for exercising a peremptory strike).
13. “General instability". See State v. Robinson, 305 S.C. 469, 409 S.E.2d 404 (1991)(indicating that Solicitor’s reasons for striking black juror were racially neutral and were not pretext for discrimination where Solicitor stated he struck juror because of her “general instability,” in that she had changed employment several times after relatively short periods of employment, was unmarried mother of two-year-old, and was still living at her parents’ home, and juror admitted on voir dire that she had seen outspoken advocate of defendant discussing his case on television).
B. Examples — Invalid Reasons for Strike
1. Desire to seat other venirepersons who have not yet been presented. See State v. Hicks, 330 S.C. 207, 210, 499 S.E.2d 209, 211 (1998) (stating black murder defendant who exercised nine of his. peremptory strikes to remove white prospective jurors and one peremptory strike to remove black prospective juror from panel failed to satisfy requirement of Batson that he offer race-neutral explanation for his exercise of strikes against two of those white prospective jurors; defendant explained he struck those jurors “to reach some jurors further down the list,” but he offered no explanation as to which jurors he was attempting to seat or why other jurors were more desirable than the two in question); State v. *333Grandy, 306 S.C. 224, 411 S.E.2d 207 (1991) (emphasizing that solicitor failed to articulate racially neutral explanation in his assertion he excluded prospective black juror because he wanted to seat other venirepersons; solicitor gave no reason why it was desirable to have other venirepersons seated, as opposed to the black juror; effect was same as- if no reason was given for striking black juror).
2. Generalization about an entire group. See Payton v. Kearse, 329 S.C. 51, 495 S.E.2d 205 (1998) (ruling that striking white juror because she was a “redneck” was not valid race-neutral reason on its face; thus, strike was facially discriminatory and violated Batson; term “redneck” was racially derogatory term applied exclusively to members of white race, and term stereotyped subgroup of white race without any evidence that each member of group was actually possessed of bias or prejudice).
3. Potential juror who “shucked and jived” to the microphone. See State v. Tomlin, 299 S.C. 294, 299, 384 S.E.2d 707, 710 (1989) (“The trial court failed to inquire into or comment on the prosecutor’s explanation that the juror was struck because he ‘shucked and jived.’ The use of this racial stereotype is evidence of the prosecutor’s subjective intent to discriminate and clearly violates the - mandates of Batson.”).
4. Racial stereotypes. See Tomlin, 299 S.C. at 298-99, 384 S.E.2d at 710 (noting prosecutor stated he struck Juror, a forty-three-year-old black woman, because she walked slow, talked low and might not be able to withstand trial; rather than inquiring into legitimacy of this explanation, trial court suggested juror had lack of education, was extremely sluggish and would be a “filler” if seated on the jury; supreme court concluded use of such racial stereotypes violates Batson).
III. Argument of Mere Pretext
Once a race-neutral explanation is given, the opponent of the strike must show the explanation was mere pretext to engage in purposeful racial discrimination. State v. Short, 333 S.C. 473, 511 S.E.2d 358 (1999); State v. Adams, 322 S.C. 114, 470 S.E.2d 366 (1996). Pretext generally will be established by demonstrating that a similarly situated member of another race was seated on the jury. State v. Haigler, 334 S.C. 623, *334515 S.E.2d 88 (1999); Adams, 322 S.C. at 123, 470 S.E.2d at 371. Under some circumstances, the race-neutral explanation given by the proponent may be so fundamentally implausible that the judge may determine, at this third step of the analysis, that the explanation was mere pretext even without a showing of disparate treatment. Payton v. Kearse, 329 S.C. 51, 495 S.E.2d 205 (1998).
The uneven application of a neutral reason does not automatically result in a finding of invidious discrimination if the strike’s proponent provides a race-neutral explanation for the inconsistency. See State v. Kelley, 319 S.C. 173, 460 S.E.2d 368 (1995) (finding State provided a racially neutral explanation for why Solicitor did not strike juror with similar characteristics to one previously stricken). Under this prong, persuasiveness of the justification becomes relevant. Purkett v. Elem, 514 U.S. 765, 115 S.Ct. 1769, 131 L.Ed.2d 834 (1995). The opponent of the strike carries the burden of persuading the circuit court the challenged party exercised strikes in a discriminatory manner. Adams, 322 S.C. at 124, 470 S.E.2d at 372; see also Haigler, 334 S.C. at 629, 515 S.E.2d at 91 (stating burden of persuading court a Batson violation has occurred remains at all times on opponent of strike); State v. Smalls, 336 S.C. 301, 308, 519 S.E.2d 793, 796 (Ct.App.1999) (“At this third step, the burden returns to the party challenging the strike to establish that the explanation is mere pretext.”). The ultimate question the trial court resolves under this prong is whether the movant has met his burden in demonstrating purposeful discrimination. State v. Casey, 325 S.C. 447, 481 S.E.2d 169 (Ct.App.1997).
A racially neutral reason can be negated by showing that the party created a pretext for purposeful discrimination by applying his allegedly racially neutral standard in a discriminatory manner. State v. Easler, 322 S.C. 333, 471 S.E.2d 745 (Ct.App.1996), aff'd as modified, 327 S.C. 121, 489 S.E.2d 617 (1997). In State v. Oglesby, 298 S.C. 279, 379 S.E.2d 891 (1989), the supreme court found a Batson violation when the State struck three black women because they were patients of a doctor who was a defense witness, but seated a white woman who was a patient of the same doctor. The court held the State’s race-neutral reason for striking the three black women *335was mere pretext in light of the fact that it seated a similarly-situated white woman. Id.
The determination of whether the minimum quantum of evidence has been produced under this prong is flexible, for the trial court’s ruling turns on an examination of the totality of the facts and circumstances in the record, including the credibility and demeanor of the strike’s proponent, and the plausibility of a neutral, but otherwise unpersuasive, reason. Casey, 325 S.C. at 452, 481 S.E.2d at 172.
In deciding whether the opponent of a strike has carried the burden of persuasion, a court must undertake a sensitive inquiry into the circumstantial and direct evidence of intent. Haigler, 334 S.C. at 629, 515 S.E.2d at 91. A strike must be examined in light of the circumstances under which it is exercised, including an examination of the explanations offered for other strikes. Id.
IV. After Batson Motion is Granted
If the trial judge finds the opposing party has established a prima facie case of purposeful discrimination and that the proponent of the strike has failed to give race-neutral reasons for the contested strikes, the process of selecting a jury shall start over. See State v. Jones, 293 S.C. 54, 358 S.E.2d 701 (1987). Thus, “if the circuit court finds a juror has been struck in violation of Batson, our supreme court has mandated that the circuit court strike the entire jury and begin the jury selection process de novo.” State v. Heyward, 357 S.C. 577, 580, 594 S.E.2d 168, 169 (Ct.App.2004). Members of the tainted jury and all persons who were struck may be placed back in the jury venire. Jones, 293 S.C. at 58, 358 S.E.2d at 704.
Once a juror has been unconstitutionally stricken, the jury selection process relative to that juror is tainted. State v. Lewis, 363 S.C. 37, 609 S.E.2d 515 (2005). If the trial court chooses to reseat the improperly stricken juror, the striking party may not use a peremptory strike to remove that juror from the panel a second time. Id. Therefore, during the subsequent jury selection, the trial judge may prohibit the party who violated Batson from striking a juror who was *336improperly struck during the previous jury selection. Id.; State v. Franklin, 318 S.C. 47, 456 S.E.2d 357 (1995).
V. State v. Adams and its Progeny
In State v. Adams, 322 S.C. 114, 470 S.E.2d 366 (1996), during voir dire, the defense exercised its peremptory challenges upon seven Caucasians. The prosecution requested a Batson hearing. The trial judge found a Batson violation based on his conclusion that defense counsel’s explanations for two of the strikes — that one of the prospective jurors was a court reporter, knew too much about the process, and looked “too intelligent,” and that another prospective juror knew the trial judge — were not racially neutral. On appeal, our supreme court ruled the trial judge erred in finding a Batson violation. The court concluded:
These explanations are racially neutral, legitimate reasons for exercising peremptory strikes. A potential juror’s acquaintance with the trial judge is a perfectly valid explanation for the exercise of a peremptory strike. The explanation that one juror looked “too intelligent” could be viewed as suspect but for the fact that the primary explanation given for the strike was that the potential juror was employed as a court reporter and may have known “too much” about the judicial process. Under our past precedents, the judge should have found these reasons racially neutral and legitimate and allowed the prosecution an opportunity to show that the explanations were pretextual. Under the new Purkett standard, the judge also should have allowed the inquiry to proceed to the third step, because the explanations given were facially race-neutral.
The Record contains very little information that would allow chis Court to determine whether defense counsel allowed to be seated black jurors who were similarly situated to the white jurors who were struck. The Record lacks this information because the trial judge did not allow the Batson hearing to proceed to the third stage. Without more information in the Record, we conclude that the trial court erred in finding a Batson violation and in quashing the original jury.
Id. at 125, 470 S.E.2d at 372.
The court of appeals, in State v. Easler, 322 S.C. 333, 471 S.E.2d 745 (Ct.App.1996), aff'd as modified, 327 S.C. 121, 489 *337S.E.2d 617 (1997), found a Batson violation when the defendant struck a black man because of his age, but seated a white man within the same age bracket. This court held the defendant’s race-neutral reason for striking the black man was negated by the fact he seated several white venirepersons in the same age bracket. Id.
In Payton v. Kearse, 329 S.C. 51, 495 S.E.2d 205 (1998), respondent exercised all of his peremptory strikes to remove prospective white jurors. Petitioner requested a Batson hearing. Respondent’s counsel offered the following reason for striking Juror 18:
“The juror number 18, she is known as [a] very opinionated person, your Honor, who expresses herself. We knew if she got on that jury she was not gone [sic] budge one way or the other, that she was gone [sic] get her way or no way. That was our opinion from what we had learned. Her family has — Mr. Lanier has talked about the number of people in trouble. She herself has not had any problems but she comes from a family that’s had some problems with the law and she’s kind of what we refer to as a redneck variety, so to speak, and that was the reason we struck her and, as you know, your Honor, I was concerned with her family, whether she had any problems with me or the law because some members of her family might have problems with the law.”
Id. at 55, 495 S.E.2d at 208. After hearing respondent’s reason for striking the juror, the trial court declared the reason race-neutral and found respondent had not violated Batson. On appeal, the supreme court ruled the trial court erred in finding the reason offered to strike Juror 18 to be race-neutral on its face. The court explicated: “The term ‘redneck’ is a racially derogatory term applied exclusively to members of the white race. The use of the term ‘redneck’ is not a valid race-neutral reason to strike a potential juror, and therefore, the strike is facially discriminatory and violates Batson.” Id. at 55-56, 495 S.E.2d at 208 (footnote omitted).
In State v. McCray, 332 S.C. 536, 506 S.E.2d 301 (1998), appellant, who is black, was tried with two co-defendants, Roger Dewitt (Bill) Prince and Charlie Dorn Smith, who are white. Appellant argued his co-defendants violated Batson by excluding black jurors from the venire because of their race. *338The judge denied appellant’s Batson motion. The supreme court remanded the matter to the trial court for the purpose of conducting a Batson hearing. On remand, co-defendant Prince candidly stated, due to the passage of time, he did not remember exactly why he had struck the black jurors at issue but, referring to his notes, thought he struck Juror #112 because she had two cousins who were sheriffs in New York and Juror # 26 because he had a friend who worked for the sheriffs department. Co-defendant Smith stated he did not want anyone with connection to law enforcement on the jury. Consequently, he struck Juror # 9, whose friend worked for SLED, and Juror # 61, whose cousin worked for the sheriffs department.
Appellant argued the stated reasons for striking the four black jurors were pretextual because the co-defendants did not strike three white jurors who had similar connections to law enforcement. The trial judge concluded the stated reasons for striking the four black jurors were not pretextual. The supreme court agreed finding the record from the jury voir dire indicated the three white jurors who were seated on the jury were not similarly situated to the four black jurors who were struck from the jury. While the black jurors had relatives or friends who, at the time of trial, were employed in law enforcement, the relatives or friends of the white jurors were no longer employed in law enforcement. The white jurors did not have the same relationship to law enforcement as the black jurors. The court determined appellant failed to meet his burden of establishing the co-defendants’ stated reasons for striking the black jurors were pretextual. Thus, the court ruled the trial judge’s findings were supported by the evidence and should be affirmed.
In State v. Tucker, 334 S.C. 1, 512 S.E.2d 99 (1999), all of the six peremptory strikes used by the State were used against blacks. Appellant contended that similarly situated white jurors were not struck. Specifically, appellant questioned the striking of Juror Bonaparte. On appeal, the supreme court articulated:
The solicitor stated he struck Juror Bonaparte because he was argumentative and his answers were “dogmatic.” Further, Juror Bonaparte had referred to his brother’s murder and the former solicitor’s refusal to prosecute. The solicitor *339stated he was afraid this juror harbored some resentment against the solicitor’s office which might affect his deliberations. The trial court agreed that Juror Bonaparte was argumentative. The trial judge even pointed out how the juror had been argumentative with him. Appellant has failed to point out a white juror similarly situated to Juror Bonaparte who was not struck. Furthermore, counsel may strike venirepersons based on their demeanor and disposition. State v. Wilder, 306 S.C. 535, 413 S.E.2d 323 (1991).
Id. at 8, 512 S.E.2d at 102.
In State v. Short, 333 S.C. 473, 511 S.E.2d 358 (1999), the defense, during jury selection, used eight peremptory challenges, all against white venirepersons. On the State’s motion, the trial judge conducted a Batson hearing. The judge ruled two of Short’s challenges were racially motivated and, thus, violative of Batson. The two contested strikes were exercised against Jurors # 39 and # 13. Defense counsel explained he challenged # 39 because her husband was an assistant manager at “Carl’s” and “just about every term of court, Carl’s has a case in court, either somebody shooting in the parking lot, bad checks, one thing and another.” Id. at 476, 511 S.E.2d at 359. As to # 13, counsel explained the juror was employed at the same business where counsel’s brother was the manager and “maybe because he’s a manager, he’s made somebody mad and they would hold it against my client.” Id. at 476, 511 S.E.2d at 359-60. The trial court found the defense’s explanations for its exercise of peremptory strikes were not racially neutral absent a showing of actual bias or prejudice on the part of Jurors 39 and 13. The trial court set aside the jury panel. The judge then directed that the jury be re-struck and that Short would not be permitted to challenge the two venirepersons previously stricken in violation of Batson. During the second jury selection, both Jurors 39 and 13 were seated. Short requested a bench conference immediately after the jury selection and thereafter objected to the seating of the two jurors. On appeal, the supreme court concluded Short’s explanations were facially race-neutral and the State failed to show mere pretext. Thus, the trial judge erred in ruling the strikes violated Batson.
In State v. Ford, 334 S.C. 59, 512 S.E.2d 500 (1999), during jury selection, appellant exercised thirteen peremptory chai*340lenges when selecting the jury and the two alternates. Twelve of the thirteen jurors struck were white. On the State’s motion, the trial court conducted a Batson hearing. The trial judge noted he was most concerned with the strikes exercised against Jurors # 95 and # 126. Defense counsel claimed he struck Juror # 95 “because she works at a local hardware store which is owned by a former longtime Dillon County Magistrate and his employees are exposed to pro-prosecution ideas since many law enforcement personnel regularly visit the store.” Id. at 62, 512 S.E.2d at 502. He struck Juror # 126 for the following reason:
“[W]e did not feel comfortable.... He’s assistant manager of Tomlinsons on Main Street. My wife helped me select the juror and as a teenager she worked there and he worked there at the time. And we feel that he would feel uncomfortable. And, in fact, last September, when I had a death penalty case, he sold me a pair of shoes to wear in court for that trial. So we thought he would be uncomfortable sitting on the jury. We didn’t know which way he might go. But it could certainly have a bearing on that. And whenever I go into Tomlinsons we all joke and talk. Of course, we have not talked about this particular trial, but every time I go in there he’s asking me about court,different cases going on. And I, certainly, would not want him to be on one of my juries because I wouldn’t feel comfortable.”
Id. at 62-63, 512 S.E.2d at 502. The trial judge ruled appellant had violated Batson. According to the judge, because appellant exercised all but one of his strikes against prospective white jurors, “ ‘[t]he cumulative effect is a lot worse picture than looking at it on an individual basis.’ ” Id. at 63, 512 S.E.2d at 503. The trial judge quashed the jury and ordered selection of a new jury. Further, the judge ruled appellant could not strike Juror # 126 during the second jury selection. Both Jurors # 95 and # 126 were seated on the second jury.
On appeal, appellant alleged the judge erred in finding his strikes violated Batson. The supreme court illuminated:
In this case, appellant’s explanations were facially race-neutral. In particular, with regard to Juror # 126, an attorney’s personal knowledge of and relationship with a prospective juror is a race-neutral reason. See State v. *341Adams, [322 S.C. 114, 470 S.E.2d 366 (1996) ] (a potential juror’s acquaintance with the trial judge is a valid reason for exercising a peremptory strike). With regard to Juror # 95, a prospective juror’s employment in a hardware store owned by a longtime magistrate where local law enforcement officials gather is a race-neutral reason. State v. Adams, supra (a potential juror’s employment as a court reporter is a valid reason for exercising a peremptory strike); State v. Green, [306 S.C. 94, 409 S.E.2d 785 (1991)] (unemployment is a race-neutral reason). Further, it is legitimate to strike potential jurors because of their employment. State v. Adams, supra; State v. Green, supra. Also, it is legitimate to strike a potential juror because she or he has a relationship with a law enforcement official or because she or he is pro-law enforcement. Compare with State v. Richburg, 304 S.C. 162, 403 S.E.2d 315 (1991) (State’s explanation that juror was anti-law enforcement was race-neutral).
Further, these explanations are not so fundamentally implausible as to constitute mere pretext without some showing of disparate treatment. The State offered no evidence of pretext, as required by step three of the Adams/Purkett analysis. Although appellant exercised most of his strikes against white jurors, he did not strike every white juror. Instead, some white jurors were accepted by appellant and were placed on the first jury. Further, the fact that appellant used most of his, challenges to strike white jurors is not sufficient, in itself,- to establish purposeful discrimination. See State v. Tucker, 334 S.C. 1, 512 S.E.2d 99 (1999) (no Batson violation where the State exercised all six of its peremptory strikes against blacks because the explanations were race-neutral); State v. Casey, 325 S.C. 447, 481 S.E.2d 169 (Ct.App.1997) (no Batson violation where solicitor had neutral reasons for all five strikes used against males). Thus, this record fails to support the trial judge’s finding of a Batson violation. Accordingly, the trial judge erred in ruling these strikes violated Batson, and appellant was denied his right to exercise his peremptory challenges.
Id. at 65-66, 512 S.E.2d at 503-04.
In State v. Haigler, 334 S.C. 623, 515 S.E.2d 88 (1999), the jurors seated in appellant’s case included three white men, five *342white women, one black man, and three black women. The two alternate jurors, who did not participate in deliberations, were black men. The prosecutor exercised peremptory challenges against four black women and one white man. Appellant is a black man. Appellant raised a Batson challenge to the prosecutor’s decision to strike the black women as prospective jurors. The prosecutor stated he struck the first black woman because she was very young and had gone to school with appellant. He struck the second black woman because she had a shoplifting conviction. He struck the fourth black woman because she was unemployed, which meant she had an insufficient stake in the community. The trial judge ruled all those were race-neutral reasons for the strikes. The prosecutor declared he struck the third black woman, Tammy Berry, for two reasons: “One reason is that she had prior jury service on a criminal sexual conduct and came back with a not guilty verdict. That wasn’t the main reason. The main reason was that Larry Smith who is a key witness here knows this person, says she is a good person but she is very high strung, a critical type person, opinionated and he didn’t feel like she could deliberate well with the other jurors, would be a polarizing individual.” Id. at-627, 515 S.E.2d at 90 (footnote omitted).
Appellant argued the first reason given by the prosecutor was pretextual because the prosecutor had accepted Gerald Smith, a white man, who also had returned a not guilty verdict in a criminal case. Smith had sat on a criminal jury eighteen to twenty years earlier, and he thought he remembered that the verdict in the domestic shooting case was not guilty. Berry had sat on a criminal jury five years earlier, and definitely remembered that the verdict in the rape case was not guilty. Appellant argued the second reason given by the prosecutor was pretextual because Berry did not stand up during voir dire to say she knew Larry Williams when venire members were asked whether they knew law enforcement officers involved in the case. The trial judge denied the Batson motion, ruling both the prosecutor’s reasons were racially neutral and not pretextual.
On appeal, the supreme court concluded appellant did not carry his burden in proving the prosecutor engaged in pur*343poseful discrimination during the jury selection process. The court found:
[T]he prosecutor’s primary reason for striking Berry was because the lead detective in appellant’s case knew her to be a high-strung, critical person who would be a polarizing force on the jury. That was a race-neutral reason for the strike. Cf. State v. Richburg, 304 S.C. 162, 403 S.E.2d 315 (1991) (officer’s apparent knowledge that venireperson had anti-law enforcement bias may be race-neutral reason for strike); State v. Smith, 321 S.C. 471, 469 S.E.2d 57 (Ct.App.1996) (trooper’s personal contact with venirepersons and belief they may hold anti-law enforcement bias may be race-neutral reason for strike). Berry’s failure to reveal during voir dire that she was acquainted with the lead detective is irrelevant to the Batson analysis, which focuses upon a party’s knowledge of a potential juror and reason for exercising a peremptory challenge.
... [W]e do not believe the prosecutor’s second reason was fundamentally implausible or pretextual. First, Berry and Smith were not similarly situated in that Berry had served on a criminal jury five years earlier and definitely remembered the verdict, while Smith had served on a criminal jury some twenty years earlier and was unsure of the verdict. Second, and more importantly, the circumstances of the jury selection process indicate the prosecutor did not strike potential jurors for racially motivated reasons. While the prosecutor struck four black prospective jurors, he seated four black people on the regular jury and two black alternate jurors. See State v. Dyar, [317 S.C. 77, 452 S.E.2d 603 (1994)] (composition of jury panel is one factor to consider in Batson analysis); State v. Guess, 318 S.C. 269, 457 S.E.2d 6 (Ct.App.1995) (finding no purposeful discrimination, in part because jury included six members of the minority allegedly offended); State v. Watts, 320 S.C. 377, 465 S.E.2d 359 (Ct.App.1995) (finding no purposeful discrimination, in part because jury was composed of eight white people and four black people, and prosecutor had struck two white people).
Similarly, the record contains no indication the prosecutor’s stated reasons for striking the other three black worn-*344en — that one was too young and knew appellant, one had a criminal conviction, and one was unemployed — were motivated by purposeful discrimination. See State v. Ford, [334 S.C. 59, 512 S.E.2d 500 (1999)] (lack of employment or place or type of employment may be race-neutral reason for strike); State v. Johnson, 302 S.C. 243, 395 S.E.2d 167 (1990) (potential juror’s knowledge of and association with deféndant may be race-neutral reason for strike); State v. Dyar, supra (past prosecution of potential juror by particular solicitor’s office may be race-neutral reason for strike); State v. Green, 306 S.C. 94, 409 S.E.2d 785 (1991) (unemployment may be race-neutral reason for a strike); State v. Martinez, 294 S.C. 72, 362 S.E.2d 641 (1987) (unemployment and possible criminal records may be race-neutral reasons for a strike).
Id. at 630-32, 515 S.E.2d at 91.
In State v. Smalls, 336 S.C. 301, 519 S.E.2d 793 (Ct.App.1999), the appellant used nine of ten peremptory strikes to remove white jurors from the venire. The State posited a Batson objection, alleging the defense utilized the strikes in an intentionally discriminatory manner. The trial court then asked defense counsel to give race-neutral reasons for the strikes, to which she responded, “A lot of this was just looking at the potential jurors and seeing — if they don’t look at me or if they look with a mean, stern look.” Id. at 304, 519 S.E.2d 793, 519 S.E.2d at 794. She further explained that she believed those persons who tended to look away or glare were not open-minded, and stated that such veniremen “have already made their minds up, and I don’t want them on the jury.” Id. While the trial judge admitted counsel’s stated explanation “possibly could be reasonable,” he determined it was not sufficiently race-neutral. Id. As a result, the court returned the jury panel to the pool, and a new jury was drawn and sworn. The new panel contained four members originally struck by the defense.
On appeal, the court of appeals determined:
We discern no discriminatory intent inherent in the defendant’s explanation. We therefore find the reason asserted by Smalls for his peremptory strikes, that the jurors were either refusing to look or looking in a “mean,” “stern” *345or “accusatory” manner, was facially race-neutral, even if perhaps suspect. See State v. Tucker, [334 S.C. 1, 512 S.E.2d 99 (1999)]; State v. Wilder, 306 S.C. 535, 413 S.E.2d 323 (1991) (counsel may strike venire persons based on their demeanor and disposition). The trial court erred, therefore, in failing to require the State to carry its burden to present evidence of pretext as prescribed by step three of the Adams/Purkett analysis. See Ford at 66, 512 S.E.2d at 504 (finding opponent of strikes failed to offer evidence of pretext as required by step three of the analysis); Adams, 322 S.C. at 124, 470 S.E.2d at 372 (stating that “[u]nder some circumstances, the race-neutral explanation given by the proponent may be so fundamentally implausible that the judge may determine, at the third step of the analysis, that the explanation was mere pretext”) (emphasis added); Purkett, 514 U.S. at 768, 115 S.Ct. at 1771 (opponent of strike bears ultimate burden of persuasion regarding racial motivation); cf. Payton v. Kearse, 329 S.C. at 55-56, 495 S.E.2d at 208 (“redneck” is not race-neutral on its face so there is no need to reach the third step of the analysis).
Id. at 309, 519 S.E.2d at 797.
In State v. Wright, 354 S.C. 48, 579 S.E.2d 538 (Ct.App.2003), overruled on other grounds by State v. Gentry, 363 S.C. 93, 610 S.E.2d 494 (2005), the State exercised peremptory challenges to strike three black jurors. Wright objected and requested a Batson hearing. Specifically, as to Juror 29, the State explained that although she was a bilingual translator, she had a heavy accent, and the State was unsure as to her command of the English language. Wright then responded the State did not strike Juror 123, a white German woman who had a “huge accent.” Id. at 51, 579 S.E.2d at 540. The State countered that it was under the impression Juror 123 worked in communications at the fire department and would thus have a better grasp of the English language. Based on this dialogue, the circuit court found the State’s peremptory strike did not violate Batson, and the jury was seated and sworn.
On appeal, Wright claimed the circuit court erred by allowing the State to exercise peremptory challenges in a racially discriminatory manner in violation of Batson. The court of appeals held:
*346Viewing the record in light of our standard of review, the circuit court’s conclusion was not clearly erroneous. Although we recognize Juror 29 and Juror 123 are similarly situated in that they both have foreign accents, the State distinguished them by their observable command of the English language, as well as what the State perceived their occupations to be. These were proper race-neutral considerations. See Matthews v. Evatt, 105 F.3d 907, 918 (4th Cir.1997) (holding the State is allowed to consider tone, demeanor, facial expression, and any other race-neutral factors when striking jurors). Thus, the circuit court did not err.
Id. at 56, 579 S.E.2d at 542.
In State v. Flynn, 368 S.C. 83, 627 S.E.2d 763 (Ct.App.2006), after the jury was qualified, defense counsel raised a Batson challenge based on the fact that the State used all its strikes to remove black females from the jury. The State presented its explanations for the strikes. As to Juror 21, the State asserted: “ ‘[She] is a Head Start director. I view that as a very liberal job and that’s the reason why I struck her.’ ” Id. at 49, 579 S.E.2d 538. Defense counsel took exception to the State’s reasons for striking Juror 21. The State then expounded on its reasons for striking her: “ ‘Your Honor, I believe that is a social welfare kind of program, and as director she is liberal in nature. It’s a liberal type of attitude and job, and that is why I struck her.’ ” Id. at 50, 579 S.E.2d 538. The trial court ruled that, given the nature of the case and progress of the trial to that point, it would be possible to consider a Head Start director as an improper juror. The court stated: “ ‘I’m going to conclude that it’s race neutral, particularly in view of the fact that the Defendant is a young white Caucasian. That particular juror is female, African-American. I conclude that’s race-neutral.’” Id. at 50, 579 S.E.2d 538.
On appeal, Flynn argued the trial court erred in not finding the State violated Batson in regard to its treatment of Juror 21. He asserts the State advanced a racial stereotype to justify striking Juror 21. The court of appeals determined: “[T]he State asserted that due to her employment, it believed Juror 21 was ‘liberal.’ As Flynn has offered no evidence other than a conclusory assertion of racial motivation, we find the *347trial court did not err in failing to find a Batson violation.” Id. at 51, 579 S.E.2d 538.
VI. Batson Violation/Remedy
Any deviation from the mandated and recognized Batson procedure is NOT a mere peccadillo, but is an egregious judicial corrigendum. Notwithstanding error, the more pertinent query is whether reversal is obligatory.
State v. Adams edifies in regard to the remedy for a Batson violation:
Nevertheless, we do not reverse based on this error. We have not yet ruled on the proper remedy for a trial judge’s error in finding a Batson violation and quashing the jury. This situation is fundamentally different from one in which the trial judge improperly upholds racially discriminatory peremptory challenges. When the trial court improperly upholds such challenges, there has been a violation of the stricken jurors’ Fourteenth Amendment equal protection rights. Additionally, if the prosecution is the party improperly exercising peremptory challenges that the trial judge upholds, the defendant has been denied a right to a fair and impartial jury of his peers. However, where, as here, the trial judge improperly quashes a jury panel, no juror’s equal protection rights have been violated. An appellate determination that a judge erred in finding a Batson violation means the obvious: No Batson violation occurred, and there was, therefore, no denial of anyone’s equal protection rights. Moreover, we see no way in which the defendant’s fair trial rights were violated. A defendant has no right to trial by any particular jury. E.g., State v. Caldwell, 300 S.C. 494, 388 S.E.2d 816 (1990). When the trial judge quashed the first jury panel, the parties selected a new jury. Adams has voiced no complaints about the new jury. We find that no prejudice resulted from the judge’s error.
Id. at 125-26, 470 S.E.2d at 372-73.
Unlike in Adams, the Appellants in the instant case have complained about the new jury.
In State v. Short, 333 S.C. 473, 511 S.E.2d 358 (1999), after ruling the trial court erred in finding a Batson violation and quashing the first jury, the supreme court inculcated:
*348After finding error in the trial judge’s Batson ruling, the Court of Appeals went on to find reversible error because Short’s right to exercise peremptory challenges against the two jurors was denied him. The Court of Appeals found no showing of prejudice was required because there was no way to determine with any degree of certainty whether Short’s right to a fair trial by an impartial jury was abridged. 327 S.C. at 335, 489 S.E.2d at 212.
In finding reversible error, the Court of Appeals adopted the analysis of United States v. Annigoni, 96 F.3d 1132 (9th Cir.1996), requiring no showing of actual prejudice to reverse for infringement of the federal statutory right to exercise a peremptory challenge. This rule is consistent with that of a clear majority of state courts as well. See, e.g., Mason v. State, 536 So.2d 127 (Ala.Crim.App.1988); State v. Huerta, 175 Ariz. 262, 855 P.2d 776 (1993); Hagerman v. State, 613 So.2d 552 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.1993); People v. Bennett, 282 Ill.App.3d 975, 218 Ill.Dec. 574, 669 N.E.2d 717 (1996); State v. Kauhi, 86 Hawai'i 195, 948 P.2d 1036 (1997); Spencer v. State, 20 Md.App. 201, 314 A.2d 727 (1974); Commonwealth v. Roche, 44 Mass.App. 372, 691 N.E.2d 946 (1998); People v. Schmitz, 231 Mich.App. 521, 586 N.W.2d 766 (1998); Arenas v. Gari, 309 N.J.Super. 1, 706 A.2d 736 (1998); Fuson v. State, 105 N.M. 632, 735 P.2d 1138 (1987); City of Dickinson v. Lindstrom, 575 N.W.2d 440 (N.D.1998); Baker v. English, 324 Or. 585, 932 P.2d 57 (1997); Commonwealth v. Ingber, 516 Pa. 2, 531 A.2d 1101 (1987); Nunfio v. State, 808 S.W.2d 482 (Tex.Crim.App.1991); State v. Ramos, 211 Wis.2d 12, 564 N.W.2d 328 (1997); Westcom v. Meunier, 164 Vt. 536, 674 A.2d 1267 (1996); Wardell v. McMillan, 844 P.2d 1052 (Wyo.1992).
To the contrary, however, there is precedent of this Court indicating a showing of actual prejudice is required to find reversible error in the denial of the right to exercise a peremptory challenge. In State v. Plath, 277 S.C. 126, 284 S.E.2d 221 (1981), overruled on other grounds, State v. Collins, 329 S.C. 23, 495 S.E.2d 202 (1998), we concluded the defendant failed to show prejudice from the denial of a peremptory challenge where there was ample opportunity to examine the juror on voir dire and there was no showing of *349any bias or lack of impartiality on the part of the juror. Accordingly, we found no reversible error.
We now overrule Plath and adopt the majority rule that no showing of actual prejudice is required to find reversible error for the denial or impairment of the right to a peremptory challenge. We note that Plath is distinguishable from our other decisions discussing “prejudice” in the denial of a peremptory challenge where the issue actually turned on whether the complaining party had established he was denied the right to exercise a peremptory challenge. Where such a denial was established, we implicitly applied the majority rule discussed above and reversed without a showing of actual prejudice. See State v. Anderson, 276 S.C. 578, 281 S.E.2d 111 (1981) (prejudice in wrongfully limiting number of peremptory challenges where defendant exercised all permitted); Moore v. Jenkins, 304 S.C. 544, 405 S.E.2d 833 (1991) (failure to use side-to-side procedure in allowing peremptory challenges in a case with multiple defendants prejudiced the plaintiff as a matter of law). In cases finding no prejudice, on the other hand, we actually determined the complaining party had not established the denial of a peremptory challenge. See Laury v. Hamilton, 317 S.C. 503, 455 S.E.2d 173 (1995) (no prejudice where party received greater number of strikes than that to which he was entitled under side-to-side method); State v. Holland, 261 S.C. 488, 201 S.E.2d 118 (1973) (no prejudice in limiting number of peremptory challenges where defendants used fewer than allowed). Before reversible error can be found, the complaining party must of course establish the denial of his right to exercise a peremptory challenge.
Short, 333 S.C. at 476-78, 511 S.E.2d at 360-61 (footnote omitted).
Thereafter, in State v. Ford, 334 S.C. 59, 512 S.E.2d 500 (1999), the supreme court explicated:
The State argues, even if the trial judge erred in finding a Batson violation, the error was harmless because appellant failed to show the second jury was not impartial. This Court recently addressed this precise issue. See State v. Short, 333 S.C. 473, 511 S.E.2d 358 (1999) (announcing the appropriate remedy for the denial of the right to exercise a peremptory challenge). Where such a denial is established, *350no showing of actual prejudice is required to find reversible error. Id. Therefore, because appellant established he was wrongfully denied the right to exercise a peremptory challenge, we reverse his conviction.
Id. at 66, 512 S.E.2d at 504; see also State v. Smalls, 336 S.C. 301, 309, 519 S.E.2d 793, 797 (Ct.App.1999) (“no showing of actual prejudice is required to find reversible error for the denial or impairment of the right to a peremptory challenge.”); cf. State v. Ford, 334 S.C. 444, 513 S.E.2d 385 (Ct.App.1999) (noting that any Batson violation in regards to a possible alternate juror is harmless where an alternate was not needed for deliberations).
State v. Rayfield, 357 S.C. 497, 593 S.E.2d 486 (Ct.App.2004), cert. granted (March 3, 2005), is instructive. After the initial jury selection, the State moved for a Batson hearing. The trial court found a Batson violation. The first jury was quashed and a redraw of the jury followed. The ensuing redraw resulted in no Batson challenge, and significantly, none of the jurors struck by defense counsel during the initial jury selection were seated on the second jury. On appeal, Rayfield argued the trial court erred in granting the State’s Batson motion. The court of appeals held:
We agree, but we are constrained to conclude that Rayfield ultimately was not legally prejudiced by the trial court’s error.
... It was error for the trial court to grant the State’s Batson motion.
We nevertheless find no reversible error pursuant to the supreme court precedent of State v. Adams, 322 S.C. 114, 470 S.E.2d 366 (1996). In Adams, the trial court erred in granting the State’s Batson motion and quashing the jury. Because the jury ultimately selected had none of the persons defense counsel struck from the first jury panel, the supreme court found “no prejudice resulted from the judge’s error” and affirmed Adams’ convictions. Id. at 126, 470 S.E.2d at 373. In so holding, the court in Adams recognized that no juror’s equal protection rights are violated where the trial court improperly quashes a jury panel. In addition, the court in Adams referenced the settled *351principle that “[a] defendant has no right to trial by any particular jury.” Id. But cf. Ford, 334 S.C. at 66, 512 S.E.2d at 504 (holding that reversal and granting of a new trial is a proper remedy where the trial court erred in finding defendant violated Batson in striking certain jurors and any challenged juror was seated on the second jury).
Id. at 500-04, 593 S.E.2d at 488-90.
VII. The Extant Record
Analyzing the first jury and the composition and pattern of strikes, I come to the ineluctable conclusion that the trial judge did not properly conduct the Batson hearing. The erroneous procedure utilized in the first Batson hearing was exacerbated in the selection of the second jury, thereby mandating a reversal.
The record is devoid of any palliative factor mitigating against reversal.
I VOTE to REVERSE.