Opinion ID: 1094888
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Prospective Jurors Maise and C. Lasseter

Text: Before questioning prospective jurors Maise and C. Lasseter, Taylor's defense counsel also described in great detail the evidence that he expected to be presented at trial. Thereafter, the following colloquy occurred involving Maise and C. Lasseter: [COUNSEL FOR TAYLOR]: You would consider the mitigating? You don't have a fixed opinion at this point? . . . . [COUNSEL FOR TAYLOR]: Mr. Maise? [MR. MAISE]: You're asking me to make a judgment now or asking all of us to make a judgment now, and I'd just have to be honest with you and tell you that I don't think his age nor his background would have any bearing on the fact that I think he's guilty and worthy of the death penalty. [COUNSEL FOR TAYLOR]: I guess, Mr. [C] Lasseter, what would your answer be at this point to this questionto this issue? [Mr. C. LASSETER]: I'd say death penalty. [COUNSEL FOR TAYLOR]: Would itCould you consider or put any weight in his age or no significant criminal history or no prior felony acts of violence against anyone before this happened? Would thatWould that change your mind? [MR. C. LASSETER]: If there was enough something there to prove something, there would be a bearing, but if not [COUNSEL FOR TAYLOR]: Can you tell me what you mean, if there's enough there to prove. Those mitigation or what did you mean by [MR. C. LASSETER]: Well, I mean, you know, you hear all the time `Kids nowadays' and I'm saying, when I was nineteen I was already working. They don't have nothing to do. You know, it's a lot of things. From what I've heard so far, well, I would still go with the death penalty. I mean, age, good family or not. I mean [COUNSEL FOR TAYLOR]: Okay. [PROSECUTOR]: You might not put any stock in it, but would you consider his age and consider any prior criminal history or lack of it he had, even if you don't Like I mentioned earlier, you decide how much weight you give to it. You might not put any to it, but would you at least consider it? . . . . [PROSECUTOR]: You, Mr. [C] Lasseter, would you consider it even if you gave it no weight at all? [MR. C. LASSETER]: No weight at all? [PROSECUTOR]: You might decide, yeah, I'll consider it but I'm not going to count it for anything. All I want to know is, will you consider it? [MR. C. LASSETER]: I would consider it. .... [PROSECUTOR]: Mr. Maise, would you look at it, even if you gave it no weight? [MR. MAISE]: His age? [PROSECUTOR]: Yes. [MR. MAISE]: It's already been revealed and I've already considered it. .... [COUNSEL FOR TAYLOR]: When [the prosecutor] said on his turn if you would consider it even though you gave it no weight at all, what was your answer? Who did he talk to [MR. C. LASSETER]: Me. I said I would consider it. [COUNSEL FOR TAYLOR]: Was the question to you even though you gave it no weight at all and you said, yes, I'd consider it, is that the question he asked you? [MR. C. LASSETER]: He asked me would I consider it, whether I gave it no weight at all. [COUNSEL FOR TAYLOR]: What did you mean by that answer? [MR. C. LASSETER]: That I would consider it. .... [COUNSEL FOR TAYLOR]: Mr. [C] Lasseter, would that change what you told me earlier, that you still believe that Michael Taylor would deserve the death penalty? [MR. C. LASSETER]: Considering the weight? [COUNSEL FOR TAYLOR]: Considering the age. Considering the age, would that change your opinion that even considering the age you would vote ratheryou know, that you would vote for the death penalty? Your individual vote. [MR. C. LASSETER]: I would probably still vote for the death penalty. .... [COUNSEL FOR TAYLOR]: Let me askI guess, let me ask if Mr. [C] Lasseter, if you would ever consider voting for life without parole in any capital case? [MR. C. LASSETER]: Depending on the circumstances. I mean, I  That's like asking if it's going to rain tomorrow. I don't know. I can't tell you that without knowing some kind of evidence or background or something about what's going to happen. [COUNSEL FOR TAYLOR]: Your Honor, I don't have any more questions.