Opinion ID: 2675341
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Asserted Witt Error

Text: Defendant contends the trial court erred in granting the prosecutor’s forcause challenges to three prospective jurors. A prospective juror may be excused 35 for cause based on his or her views of capital punishment when “ ‘ the juror’s views would prevent or substantially impair the performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with his instructions and his oath.’ ” (Uttecht v. Brown (2007) 551 U.S. 1, 7, quoting Wainwright v. Witt (1985) 469 U.S. 412, 424.) Applying Witt, we have stated that “ ‘ “ ‘[a] prospective juror is properly excluded if he or she is unable to conscientiously consider all of the sentencing alternatives, including the death penalty where appropriate.’ [Citation.]” [Citation.] In addition, “ ‘[o]n appeal, we will uphold the trial court’s ruling if it is fairly supported by the record, accepting as binding the trial court’s determination as to the prospective juror’s true state of mind when the prospective juror has made statements that are conflicting or ambiguous.’ [Citations.]” ’ ” (People v. Blair (2005) 36 Cal.4th 686, 743 (Blair).) For the reasons stated below, we conclude the trial court did not err in granting the three challenges for cause in question. Prospective Juror S.G. Defense counsel began voir dire by asking whether S.G. could vote for either life without parole or the death penalty. He answered “Absolutely.” The prosecutor then asked about S.G.’s attitude towards the death penalty. S.G. said he “was for the most part” against it “philosophically and morally,” that it was against his religion. Given his views, S.G. agreed it would be very difficult for him to realistically consider the death penalty as an option. He agreed that, if he got to the penalty stage, it was more than likely he would vote for life without parole, his decision would be based on his religious and moral beliefs, and it would not matter what the evidence was. Defense counsel then asked whether S.G. would follow instructions to consider both options. S.G. said he would, but added, “[M]y religious and moral beliefs state that everyone basically deserves an opportunity for reform. And so given that situation, I would say that it would be extremely difficult for me to 36 impose the death penalty.” Asked whether he would consider a sentence of death if evidence was presented that a defendant had had past opportunities to reform but remained a continuing threat to the community, S.G. answered “perhaps,” but said the mere fact someone failed to take advantage of a past opportunity to reform did not foreclose future reform. He said it was against his moral standards to put someone to death who eventually might reform, even if it took 20 years in prison. Asked whether he nonetheless was open to the possibility of imposing the death penalty, S.G. said there was “a small possibility.” The prosecutor challenged S.G. for cause on the ground that his religious and moral views on the death penalty would impair his ability to consider imposing it. Defense counsel argued S.G. had indicated there was a possibility he would vote for the death penalty. In granting the challenge, the trial court stated it did not believe S.G. was honest when he said it was possible he could impose the death penalty, and concluded S.G.’s religious and moral views would substantially impair his ability to perform his duties as a juror. Defendant contends the trial court erred in dismissing S.G. because, although S.G. expressed his personal opposition to the death penalty, he consistently said he nonetheless could consider voting for death. We, however, find S.G.’s statements concerning his ability to impose the death penalty conflicting and ambiguous. We therefore accept the trial court’s determination as to S.G.’s state of mind, and, based on our review of the record, uphold the trial court’s ruling as fairly supported. (Blair, supra, 36 Cal.4th at p. 743.) 37 Prospective Juror C.J. In his questionnaire, C.J. rated himself as a 2 on a 10-point scale, which meant he was against the death penalty, although not “strongly” so.20 C.J. said he opposed the death penalty because he thought it served no purpose, noting that criminals never were executed and remained on death row for 40 years. In response to the prosecutor’s questions, C.J. said he would automatically give life without the possibility of parole and would never impose the death penalty. In response to questioning by defense counsel, C.J. stated he could put aside his personal views and listen to the court’s instructions regarding sentencing options. Asked whether he could be persuaded by other jurors that a death sentence would be right under the law, he answered: “It would be kind of hard. Yes.” Asked whether he could agree with other jurors that death was the appropriate penalty, he said he would have to think about it, and it would be against his personal views. Pressed by defense counsel as to whether he could nonetheless vote for death if it was correct under the law, he answered yes. When the prosecutor asked whether C.J. could individually and voluntarily agree to impose a sentence of death, C.J. stated: “I’d pray on it. If I have to come to that decision, that’s what I have to live with. I’d try to persuade them to life.” Asked whether his opposition to the death penalty would impair his ability to be a good juror, C.J. answered: “I could be a good juror. But come to the death penalty, I just have to try to live with it. I mean, I don’t like it. It’s against my morals. But if I have to break one of my morals, I just have to break one of them.” 20 We will refer to the jury questionnaire’s 1 to 10 scale, with 1 indicating least in favor of the death penalty and 10 indicating most in favor of the death penalty, throughout our discussion of the juror selection issues by simply reporting the number the prospective juror marked. 38 The prosecutor challenged C.J. for cause. Defense counsel countered that C.J. had said he would set aside his moral principles to return a death verdict if appropriate. The trial court granted the challenge for cause, stating, “I don’t believe he was being particularly candid. I noticed he tried to evade certain of the questions.” It found C.J.’s views on capital punishment, “religious and otherwise, would substantially impair his performance of his duties as a juror in this case in accordance with the instructions and his oath.” Defendant contends the trial court erred in dismissing C.J. because, while C.J.’s responses may have lacked eloquence, he understood the difference between his personal views and his duties as a juror and said he could perform those duties. C.J. asserted conflicting views given his initial response that he would never impose the death penalty. Although C.J. eventually said he could vote for death by “break[ing] one of [his] morals,” the court found this statement insincere. We accept the trial court’s determination as to C.J.’s state of mind given the conflicting or ambiguous statements, and we uphold the trial court’s ruling as fairly supported by the record. (Blair, supra, 36 Cal.4th at p. 743.) Prospective Juror O.G. O.G. had mixed emotions on the death penalty. While she thought it might be appropriate in some cases, she “was not sure that she was the one to say that someone should die.” In response to questions by the prosecutor, she affirmed she would always vote for life without parole, regardless of the evidence. Defense counsel sought to rehabilitate O.G. He reminded her she previously had indicated she would not automatically vote for life without parole, and had indicated her willingness to put aside her personal feelings and do her duty as a juror, including imposing the death penalty in an appropriate case. O.G. said she had had a change of heart concerning imposition of the death penalty: “I couldn’t talk about this with my pastor or anybody like that. . . . So I prayed to the Lord 39 myself. And I am convinced that I should not be the one to say someone should die.” Defense counsel told O.G. imposing a death sentence was something any juror should find difficult, but he wanted to know whether she thought she could do it. O.G. responded, “[W]hen it comes right to it, I don’t know if I could.” Defense counsel asked what O.G. would do if the evidence pointed to the death penalty, the other 11 jurors thought the death penalty would be the appropriate penalty, and she agreed with them. She answered, “Honestly, . . . I don’t know if I could do that. But I always pray for answers. That’s where I would be at that moment.” The prosecutor challenged O.G. for cause. Defense counsel argued that, while O.G. was sensitive and personally reluctant to impose the death penalty, her views did not prohibit her from doing so. The trial court granted the challenge, stating: “I watched her very closely, and I think her statement that she would not impose the death penalty under any circumstances is probably closer to the truth.” Based on our review of the record, we uphold the trial court’s ruling as fairly supported, and we accept the trial court’s determination as to O.G.’s state of mind given her conflicting or ambiguous statements. (Blair, supra, 36 Cal.4th at p. 743.)