Opinion ID: 1624316
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Religious Beliefs of Prospective Jurors

Text: Wheeler argues that it was prejudicial error to inquire into the religious beliefs of prospective jurors during individual voir dire and to excuse them from service or allow peremptory challenges to be used against them because of their religious beliefs. This issue is not properly preserved for appellate review and is raised as plain error as provided by RCr 10.26 and KRS 532.075(2). During the individual voir dire, the trial judge asked each juror several questions related to his or her religious beliefs. Not only did counsel for Wheeler not object to the line of questioning used by the trial judge of prospective jurors, but defense counsel participated in the development of the questions themselves. Decisions made during voir dire are generally regarded as trial strategy. Hodge v. Commonwealth, Ky., 17 S.W.3d 824, 837 (2000). Pursuant to RCr 9.36(1), a prospective juror shall be excused as not qualified if there is reasonable ground to believe that the juror cannot render a fair and impartial verdict on the evidence. There was no error in the inquiry of the trial judge of prospective jurors if they held any moral, religious or spiritual beliefs that would interfere with their service on the jury. There is no violation of any provision of either the federal or state constitutions.