The exclusion of individuals from juries solely because of their race is a violation of the Equal Protection Clause. This was the first time that the Supreme Court reversed a state criminal conviction due to a violation of a constitutional provision concerning criminal procedure. Decided March 1, 1880 (argued 1879). Opinion of the Court: William Strong → go there Dissenting: Field. Topic: Discrimination based on race and ethnicity. Strauder v. West Virginia, 100 U.S. 303 (1880), is a landmark decision of the Supreme Court of the United States about racial discrimination and United States constitutional criminal procedure. Strauder was the first instance where the Supreme Court reversed a state court decision denying a defendant's motion to remove his criminal trial to federal court pursuant to Section 3 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Wiki link