Opinion ID: 1058243
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: The Trial Court's Refusal to Strike Two Jurors for Cause

Text: On appellate review, we give deference to the trial court's determination whether to exclude a prospective juror, because the trial court was able to see and hear each member of the venire respond to the questions posed. Thus, the trial court is in a superior position to determine whether a juror's responses during voir dire indicate that the juror would be prevented or impaired in performing the duties of a juror as required by the court's instructions and the juror's oath. Vinson v. Commonwealth, 258 Va. 459, 467, 522 S.E.2d 170, 176 (1999), cert. denied, 530 U.S. 1218 [120 S.Ct. 2226, 147 L.Ed.2d 257] (2000); Stewart v. Commonwealth, 245 Va. 222, 234, 427 S.E.2d 394, 402, cert. denied, 510 U.S. 848 [114 S.Ct. 143, 126 L.Ed.2d 105] (1993). A trial court's decision on this issue will not be disturbed on appeal absent a showing that the trial court abused its discretion. Vinson, 258 Va. at 467, 522 S.E.2d at 176; Roach, 251 Va. at 343, 468 S.E.2d at 109. In conducting our review, we consider the juror's entire voir dire, not merely isolated statements. Vinson, 258 Va. at 467, 522 S.E.2d at 176; Clagett, 252 Va. at 90, 472 S.E.2d at 269; Mackall v. Commonwealth, 236 Va. 240, 252, 372 S.E.2d 759, 767 (1988), cert. denied, 492 U.S. 925 [109 S.Ct. 3261, 106 L.Ed.2d 607] (1989). Lovitt v. Commonwealth, 260 Va. 497, 510-11, 537 S.E.2d 866, 875 (2000). During voir dire, three prospective jurors raised their hands in response to Thomas' question, [i]s there anyone who would give greater weight to the testimony of a police officer than to that of another witness or the accused simply because of the officer's official status. The trial court carefully questioned each of these three prospective jurors and both the Commonwealth and Thomas were also allowed to further question these prospective jurors on their responses. After further questioning, the trial court struck one of the prospective jurors for cause, but allowed prospective jurors Finch and Heizer to stay in the jury pool. Thomas argues on appeal that the trial court erred in not also striking Finch and Heizer for cause as to their answers on the weight of an officer's testimony. After reviewing the voir dire as a whole and without repeating the specifics which are recited in Section I of this opinion, we hold that the trial court did not err in retaining prospective jurors Finch and Heizer in the jury pool. Both Finch and Heizer were able to answer the trial court's questions and both attorneys' questions in a manner that demonstrated their ability to be fair and impartial jurors. Therefore, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in keeping Finch and Heizer in the jury pool and not striking them for cause.