Opinion ID: 1311026
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Elna Broffman

Text: Breard contends that the trial court erred in excluding Elna Broffman from the jury. During voir dire, Broffman gave the following answers to questions propounded by the trial court and by defense counsel: THE COURT: Is there any juror who would never vote to impose the death penalty or who would refuse to even consider it in the case? [MS. BROFFMAN]: I might. .... THE COURT: .... Can you keep it as a choice in your mind if the evidence supports this, the law as the judge gives it to you seems to make it the appropriate decision? Can you consider it? MS. BROFFMAN: Well, I oppose capital punishment. .... MS. BROFFMAN: .... Even if the person is guilty he's guilty. But I'm notand I couldyou knowcould go for that but II have to admit that I do not approve of capital punishment. THE COURT: .... And the question is not opposition to it. The question is, is your opposition such that you would never vote for it? .... MS. BROFFMAN: No, I can't envision any circumstances where we would be justified in imposing the death penalty .... [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: could [you] follow the Judge's instructions MS. BROFFMAN: Yes. .... [DEFENSE COUNSEL]: So that you would be ablethe Judge's instructions toto you would be that you can consider the death penalty as an alternative. MS. BROFFMAN: I cannot consider the death penalty. Over Breard's objection, the trial court excluded Broffman from the jury. The court noted that Broffman is a truthful person of good conscience who has a fixed unalterable position in opposition to the death penalty and would never consider it. The record clearly supports the trial court's findings, and, accordingly, we conclude that the court did not err in excluding Broffman from the jury.