Opinion ID: 1629429
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Disparate questioning

Text: Defense counsel argued on appeal that the prosecutor asked different questions when there were black prospective jurors on the venire panel. To panels with non-white prospective jurors, the defense claimed the prosecutor asked if the panel members knew anyone in jail but did not pose that question to panels with only white prospective jurors. In addition, the defense claimed that only to panels which included non-white prospective jurors did the prosecutor discuss that Jacobs was facing a potential life sentence. Jacobs, 2007-887 p. 13-14, 13 So.3d at 689. A close reading of the appellate opinion reveals the court of appeal did not make its own finding as to this issue other than to agree with the defense's contentions. See Jacobs, 2007-887 p. 5, 13 So.3d at 683. In fact, our review of the information provided by the appellate court makes the accuracy of the defense's argument questionable. The appellate opinion states that the entire jury venire was comprised of 48 people and explains the make-up of the first three panels. The first panel consisted of 15 people-14 who were white and one who was Hispanic. The second panel consisted of 14 people-9 who were white and 5 who were black. The third panel consisted of 13 people-11 who were white and two who were black. Consequently, these first three panels all contained non-white prospective jurors and 42 of the entire 48 people in the venire were questioned. Voir dire continued with the remaining six venire members. Considering the racial make-up of the entire voir dire, the last panel would have consisted of only white prospective jurors. Taking into account that voir dire was almost completed, that only a few jury members, or alternates, needed to be selected, and that these remaining venirepersons sat through the questioning of the prior three panels, the fact that the prosecutor may have compressed his questioning near the end of voir dire is far different than if disparate questioning occurred between the first and second panels, had there been all white prospective jurors in one and non-white prospective jurors in the other. When examined, the factor of disparate questioning loses the significance given to it by the court of appeal.