Opinion ID: 2590326
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Prospective Juror Robert C.

Text: In responding to the jury questionnaire about his views on the death penalty, Prospective Juror Robert C. indicated, I'm not sure what my feelings [about the death penalty] are. He checked a box indicating he might be able to vote to impose the death penalty in an appropriate case depending on the facts and circumstances. During sequestered Hovey voir dire ( Hovey v. Superior Court (1980) 28 Cal.3d 1, 80 [168 Cal.Rptr. 128, 616 P.2d 1301]), the trial court explained the process of weighing aggravating and mitigating factors toward reaching a penalty determination. When asked if he was a person who could go through such a process before making a decision about imposing the death penalty, Robert C. opined that he was not. When asked if he could vote to impose the death penalty if the aggravating circumstances outweighed the mitigating circumstances, he responded, I'm not sure I could. When pressed further as to whether he could ever vote for death where appropriate, he responded, I don't know if I could come to that conclusion. I don't know. He further indicated his church was opposed to the death penalty and that he would feel uncomfortable trying to set aside his faith in voting to impose death. When asked by the court, [C]an you write down on a piece of paper, for example, death penalty is appropriate and say that in open court? he responded, I don't know if I can. When asked, You can't make a commitment as to whether or not you could do or you could say death is appropriate. Is that just kind of the bottom line? he responded affirmatively.