Opinion ID: 1060730
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Questionnaire on Life Imprisonment

Text: Defense counsel was allowed to submit an extensive questionnaire to potential jurors prior to the jury selection process. The trial judge disallowed, however, two (2) questions asking whether the potential juror believed that a person sentenced to life would spend the rest of his life in prison, and if not, how many years he/she thought such a person would serve. One of these questions also asked whether this would make the potential juror less likely to vote for a life sentence. The scope and extent of voir dire is entrusted to the discretion of the trial judge whose actions will not be disturbed absent a clear abuse of discretion. State v. Irick, 762 S.W.2d 121, 125 (Tenn.1988); State v. Poe, 755 S.W.2d 41, 45 (Tenn.1988). Defendant contends more leeway should be allowed in voir dire so as to enable him to intelligently exercise peremptory challenges. Although we agree with this general statement, we find no abuse of discretion in this instance. Without the opportunity of an explanation from counsel or the court as to these questions on the questionnaire, this could lead to unwarranted speculation as to the meaning of a life sentence. This issue is without merit.