Opinion ID: 1103987
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Rehabilitation of potential jurors.

Text: ¶ 44. Bell claims that counsel failed to rehabilitate jurors Glenda Gale Boozer Steed, Charles Lott, Stephen Bernard Chism, Ella Mae Russell, Kennedy Willis, and John William Parker, who, for religious reasons, could not impose the death penalty. He argues that counsel should always attempt to rehabilitate jurors. The State claims that Bell misleads the Court in that counsel did attempt to rehabilitate. We find that this issue is without merit. ¶ 45. Bell cites several cases, including: Phenizee v. State, 180 Miss. 746, 178 So. 579 (1938) and Burns v. Estelle, 592 F.2d 1297 (5th Cir.1979), aff'd en banc, 626 F.2d 396 (5th Cir.1980), neither of which support his position. First in Phenizee, this Court held that counsel is entitled to further question the jury after the trial court is satisfied that the panel is competent. Phenizee, 178 So. at 582. Because the right to question venire men is not at issue, the Court finds that the holding from Phenizee has no impact on the instant matter. ¶ 46. Bell incorrectly claims that in Burns, the Fifth Circuit vacated a death sentence because the defense was not allowed to voir dire a potential juror who expressed doubts about the death penalty. Instead the Fifth Circuit held that the death sentence could not be carried out because a venire member, who did not irrevocably commit to vote against the penalty of death regardless of the facts and circumstances that might emerge in the course of the proceedings, was prematurely dismissed. Burns v. Estelle, 626 F.2d at 398. Bell fails to cite any case holding that counsel was held to be ineffective because he or she failed to rehabilitate a venire member. ¶ 47. Unless there is proof that rehabilitation was possible, a defendant is not prejudiced by counsel's failure to rehabilitate venire member who were excused because of their views contrary to death penalty. Sawyer v. Butler, 848 F.2d 582, 589 (5th Cir.1988). See also Williams v. Collins, 16 F.3d 626, 633 (5th Cir.1994) (defense counsel was not ineffective in failing to object when venire members were excused for cause based on their inability impose death penalty under any circumstances; any objections and attempts to rehabilitate venire members would have been futile). ¶ 48. In the instant case, all the jurors in question expressed that they were unwilling to impose the death penalty, regardless of the circumstances. It was apparent that they were unable perform their duties in accordance with their instructions and oath. See generally Williams, 16 F.3d at 633. Bell has made no showing that rehabilitation was possible. Therefore, this issue is without merit.