Opinion ID: 1501117
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Strikes for Cause

Text: Brown contends that the trial court erred in overruling his motion to strike for cause venirepersons Ann S., John S., and Joan T. Ann S. and John S. did not serve on the jury because Brown used his peremptory strikes on them. Section 494.480.4, RSMo 1994, [2] provides: The qualifications of a juror on the panel from which peremptory challenges by the defense are made shall not constitute a ground for the granting of a motion for new trial or the reversal of a conviction or sentence unless such juror served upon the jury at the defendant's trial and participated in the verdict rendered against the defendant. Brown was tried in 1991. Section 494.480.4 was amended, effective August 28, 1993. Brown contends that this amended provision has not been applied to cases tried before the effective date of the statute and decided on appeal after August 28, 1993. Brown's argument is not persuasive. In State v. Gray, 887 S.W.2d 369, 383 (Mo. banc 1994), this Court stated: The new statute [section 494.480.4] is procedural in nature and was effective prior to the appeal of this case. Application of the statute does not violate the prohibition against ex post facto laws.... Because the two venirepersons did not serve as jurors, there is no reversible error. Furthermore, Brown alleges that Joan T. was not qualified to serve on the jury because her responses were equivocal. Joan T. stated that she would consider the full range of punishment and said that she understood that the state has the burden of proof. Joan T., after hearing that Brown was on death row for the murder of Janet Perkins, stated that she would not make a decision until all the evidence was in. Although she stated that she leaned towards the death penalty, she also stated that she could consider life. She indicated that Brown did not have the burden of showing that a life sentence was appropriate, but that she would like for Brown to prove why he should not receive the death penalty. On further questioning, Joan T. said that she understood that Brown did not have to prove anything. The qualification of Joan T. is not determined conclusively by a single response but is made on the basis of the entire examination. State v. Brown, 902 S.W.2d 278, 284 (Mo. banc 1995). The trial judge is in the best position to evaluate the venireperson's commitment to follow the law contained in the instructions. Id. Based on Joan T.'s answers, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in overruling Brown's motion to strike Joan T. for cause.