Opinion ID: 1149193
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Theresa Stewart

Text: The defendant complains about the court's ruling on a cause challenge based on hardship to prospective juror Theresa Stewart. He also contends the hardship exclusion was merely a pretext for an otherwise impermissible challenge for cause based on Ms. Stewart's reservations against imposing the death penalty. However, the record reveals Ms. Stewart testified she had a 13-year-old son who was at a critical point in school, [4] and she took him to be tutored three times a week. She further stated her husband could not take him to tutoring because of his work schedule. The trial court is authorized to excuse a person from jury service either before or after selection to the general venire or jury pool if such service would result in undue hardship or extreme inconvenience. The court is permitted to take this action on its own initiative or on the recommendation of an official or employee designated by the court. See La.Sup.Ct. R. 26; La.Code Crim.P. art. 783(B); State v. Brown, 414 So.2d 726, 728 (La.1982). The trial court is vested with broad discretion in excusing prospective jurors for undue hardship. State v. Ivy, 307 So.2d 587, 590 (La.1975). In the instant case, the court exercised its discretion and determined, based on Ms. Stewart's answers, it would constitute an undue hardship for her to serve on the jury. As to the defendant's claim the hardship challenge was merely a pretext, he fails to make any showing of fraud or collusion resulting in prejudice. See State v. Sheppard, 350 So.2d 615, 650 (La.1977). Accordingly, the defendant's claim regarding this juror's dismissal lacks merit.