Opinion ID: 1058311
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Limited Jury Questionnaire

Text: Appellant argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion to disseminate a questionnaire to prospective jurors inquiring about the jurors' gender, birth date, educational background, and economic class. Specifically, appellant argues that the court's questionnaire did not cover the topics in sufficient detail to evaluate the representation of cognizable groups, relying upon Duren v. Missouri, 439 U.S. 357, 99 S.Ct. 664, 58 L.Ed.2d 579 (1979), which holds that a defendant has a right to challenge the venire to ensure adequate representation of cognizable groups. Appellant fails to cite to the portion of the appellate record containing the questionnaire he requested be disseminated to the jury. Further, it does not appear that the questionnaire submitted to the jurors by the trial court was made a part of the appellate record. Issues which are not supported by argument, citation to authorities, or appropriate references to the record will be treated as waived in this court. Tenn. R. Ct.Crim.App. 10(b). Moreover, the control of voir dire proceedings rests within the sound discretion of the trial court, and this court will not interfere with the exercise of this discretion unless clear abuse appears on the face of the record. State v. Howell, 868 S.W.2d 238, 247 (Tenn.1993), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 1215, 114 S.Ct. 1339, 127 L.Ed.2d 687 (1994). Furthermore, a trial judge has a right to participate in voir dire examination. Tenn. R.Crim. P. 24(a). Tennessee Rule of Criminal Procedure 24(a) provides: The court may put to the respective jurors appropriate questions regarding their qualifications to serve as jurors in the case.... The trial court found that its juror questionnaire covered the topics sufficiently. Appellant has failed to show that the inquiries made by the trial court were improper or inadequate and has failed to show any abuse of discretion by the trial court. Thus, this issue is without merit.