Opinion ID: 1619317
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: analysis

Text: This Court held in Smith that a veniremember's unequivocal statement that he or she could not sign a death verdict can provide a basis for the trial court to sustain a motion to remove the veniremember for cause. 32 S.W.3d at 544. Both veniremembers in question, in this case, stated that they could not sign a death verdict. A prospective juror's reluctance or refusal to sign a death verdict may be considered by the trial court but need not be conclusive. The reluctance or refusal may be considered among other facts and circumstances  including the judge's observation of the veniremember  in deciding whether a prospective juror should be struck for cause. In this case, it is not just the simple refusal to sign the verdict that may warrant removal. Where, as here, if a veniremember claims on the one hand that he or she could fairly consider both punishments but, at the same time, unequivocally states that he or she would not sign a verdict of death, the trial court is in the best position to consider whether the record contains sufficient evidence of equivocation creating a doubt as to whether that veniremember would be able to fairly consider both punishments. Here, the veniremembers' responses revealed an inability to follow the court's instructions if that person were chosen as foreman of the jury and the trial court could have concluded from the record as a whole that there was a substantial possibility that the veniremember may not be able to fairly consider both punishments despite their assurances to the contrary. The trial court was in a better position than this Court to make that determination and did not abuse its discretion in sustaining the State's motion to strike these veniremembers for cause.