Critics blasted Carnes for defending Alabama prosecutors accused of systematically excluding blacks from death penalty trial juries. Carnes' supporters responded that as a prosecutor, Carnes had engaged in a campaign to eliminate racial discrimination in jury selection even before the Supreme Court had become involved in the issue.
Critics condemned Carnes for supporting Alabama prosecutors accused of deliberately excluding blacks from death penalty trial juries. Carnes' advocates countered that as a prosecutor, Carnes had initiated efforts to eliminate racial bias in jury selection before the Supreme Court addressed the issue.