Opinion ID: 2544661
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Voir dire responses of Prospective Jurors G.R., D.H., M.W., and R.R.

Text: Prospective Juror GR said she was philosophically opposed to the death penalty. Asked by the court whether she would always vote for life without possibility of parole, regardless of the evidence presented, she at first said she did not know the answer to that question. Whether or not in good conscience I could vote for the death penalty, I truly can't tell you at this point. Asked by defense counsel whether she could consider both penalties, she said: I think I could do that. I cannot tell for sure until I'm in that situation. Addressing the court, she said: What I'm trying to say is I truly don't know what I would do faced in a situation.... I truly don't know, and I've tried to say that I really do have a gut level reaction against the death penalty. I can tell you I have a gut reaction against the death penalty. I truly do. Asked again by the court if she could vote for the death penalty if the evidence indicated it was appropriate, she said: I think I would have to say in that situation, that I can'tI don't know what I would do, but I cannot in good conscience tell you that I know that I could impose it because I don't know that I could impose it at this point. The court granted the prosecutor's challenge for cause. On examination by the court, Prospective Juror D.H. said: I couldn't vote for the death penalty. On further question by the court, she said: I would not impose the death penalty. On voir dire by the prosecutor, she said: It would be a very difficult thing for me to do. I perhaps would be biased against the death penalty. She added: Naturally, the evidence is what I would go on, but, the death penalty, it's very questionable whether I could vote for it. The court granted the prosecutor's challenge for cause. On examination by the court, Prospective Juror M.W. said: I have mixed feelings about the death penalty, Your Honor. Asked by the court if she could vote for the death penalty if she felt it appropriate, she answered: I don't think so. Asked by the prosecutor if she could vote for the death penalty if convinced it was appropriate, she said: I don't know. I have to hear all the evidence. The court granted the prosecutor's challenge for cause. On examination by the court, Prospective Juror R.R. said: I am opposed to the death penalty. On voir dire by defense counsel, she said: I don't think I could find the death penalty ever appropriate. The court granted the prosecutor's challenge for cause.