Opinion ID: 2054238
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: failure to submit voir dire questions on racial bias

Text: Appellant next contends that trial counsel was ineffective for not submitting particular voir dire questions regarding racial bias. Appellant asserts that because he was black, he had a federal constitutional, state constitutional, and statutory right to inquire into a prospective juror's racial bias. Appellant also asserts that because one juror informed the trial judge that he might have trouble being impartial, every member of the jury venire should have been questioned on this point. [5] This argument is meritless. Initially, we note that voir dire examination regarding racial bias is not required in every case which involves a black defendant. Compare Commonwealth v. Courts, 317 Pa.Super. 271, 463 A.2d 1190 (1983) with Commonwealth v. Brown, 464 Pa. 625, 347 A.2d 716 (1975) and Commonwealth v. Christian, 480 Pa. 131, 389 A.2d 545 (1978). Furthermore, trial counsel articulated a reasonable basis for not pursuing this particular line of questioning during voir dire. Commonwealth v. Brightwell, 492 Pa. 424, 425, 424 A.2d 1263, 1264 (1981). At Appellant's second post-conviction hearing, trial counsel testified that he did not view the defendant's case as involving racially sensitive issues. N.T., October 3, 1991 at 41, 55. The Appellant, a black male, was accused of murdering Ms. Lewis, a black female. Trial counsel testified that as a result of his view, he did not want to create a racial issue and paint it as a black-white case. N.T., October 3, 1991 at 42-43. The fact that one juror volunteered his prejudice against blacks does not alter the reasonableness of trial counsel's strategy. Thus, Appellant was not denied effective assistance of counsel and is not eligible for PCRA relief on this basis.