Opinion ID: 1690710
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: the trial court, in violation of doss's rights under the united states and mississippi constitutions, discouraged potential jurors from disclosing any personal racial bias.

Text: ś 39. Doss complains under this assignment of error that during voir dire the trial judge impermissibly discouraged the jurors from disclosing any racial bias. The transcript reflects the following exchange which is complained of by Doss under this alleged error: BY THE COURT: ... Members of the jury panel, I want to touch on something that is critical, not just for me and not just for you, but for the State of Mississippi and this country. This is a crime in which the defendant is black and the victim is white.... I would be naive if I did not acknowledge that there is both a past and perhaps in someone's present, feelings that might cause you to view the situation differently simply because the victim and the defendant in this case are of different races. We certainly cannot have that here as a juror, and hopefully, the time will come when that is never present in our daily lives; that we look at each individual for what they are and make all of our decisions regarding that person, based upon that alone ... In all candor, is there any person here that would indicate to me â and I know you're in a crowd, and would not want to do that, but, certainly, you may speak to me in private if you have difficulty with this â is there anyone here who would judge this case any different simply because the victim and the defendant in this case are of different races? I did not think so, and I do not think that anyone will come back to me in private, and I commend you for that. ś 40. Doss asserts that the above statement by the trial court denied him his constitutional right to a fair trial by an impartial jury in violation of Morgan v. Illinois, 504 U.S. 719, 727-29, 112 S.Ct. 2222, 2229, 119 L.Ed.2d 492 (1992). Doss concedes that the trial judge's inquiry was proper, yet contends that the effect was completely negated by the judge's statement discouraging the venire members from divulging such a prejudice. The State asserts a procedural bar against Doss on this issue, which the record supports, as an objection is nowhere to be found. ś 41. After reading the transcript in its entirety, it appears to this Court that the trial judge had the best of intentions in trying to discover anyone on the venire that was not impartial, although the manner in which the inquiry was done may have had a chilling effect. [18] Nevertheless, the record reflects that there was no contemporaneous objection. We suggest today to the circuit judges of Mississippi that such statements are not per se prejudicial, but recognize that they should avoid, if possible, making these types of statements. Accordingly, this Court finds that this issue is procedurally barred. Conner v. State, 632 So.2d 1239, 1255 (Miss. 1993).