Opinion ID: 1414732
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: voir dire re mitigating circumstances

Text: Powers contends, citing Morgan v. Illinois, 504 U.S. 719, 112 S.Ct. 2222, 119 L.Ed.2d 492 (1992), that he should have been permitted to ask prospective jurors their opinion of various mitigating circumstances. We recently rejected an identical contention in State v. David Clayton Hill, 331 S.C. 94, 501 S.E.2d 122 (1998). See also State v. Patterson, 324 S.C. 5, 482 S.E.2d 760 (1997) (upholding trial court's limitation of voir dire regarding mitigating circumstances). As noted by our opinion in Hill, Morgan v. Illinois does not require the questioning concerning specific mitigating factors. Morgan merely recognized that a capital defendant may challenge for cause any prospective juror who indicates he or she will automatically vote for death in every case. [4] Morgan does not, however, stand for the proposition that a defendant is entitled to open-ended inquiry regarding a prospective juror's sentiments on each and every possible aggravating and mitigating circumstance. Other courts have specifically rejected an identical contention. See State v. Skipper, 337 N.C. 1, 446 S.E.2d 252, cert. denied 513 U.S. 1134, 115 S.Ct. 953, 130 L.Ed.2d 895 (N.C.1995) (holding that Morgan does not require a defendant to be permitted to voir dire jurors regarding how they would be affected by evidence of mental impairment, age, and other mitigating circumstances, since such questions would stake out juror and pledge him to a future course of action; general questions as to whether juror would consider mitigating circumstances as charged by the judge are sufficient); State v. Wilson, 74 Ohio St.3d 381, 659 N.E.2d 292 (1996) (Morgan does not require individual voir dire on separate mitigating factors); State v. Kreutzer, 928 S.W.2d 854 (Mo.1996). Here, Powers was permitted to question jurors if they would consider aggravating and mitigating circumstances as charged by the trial court; and was specifically permitted to ask if they would consider age as a mitigating circumstance if so charged by the judge. The trial court acted within its discretion in limiting the scope of voir dire in this case. State v. Patterson, supra (manner and scope of additional voir dire are matters within trial court's discretion). Powers remaining issues are affirmed pursuant to Rule 220(b), SCACR, and the following authorities: Powers' Issue 4 (Notice of Prior Bad Acts) State v. Gaskins, 284 S.C. 105, 326 S.E.2d 132 (1985); State v. Plath, 277 S.C. 126, 284 S.E.2d 221 (1981); Powers' Issue 5 (Polygraph) State v. Pressley, 290 S.C. 251, 349 S.E.2d 403 (1986); State v. Copeland, 278 S.C. 572, 300 S.E.2d 63 (1982); Powers' Issue 9 (Solicitor's closing) State v. Franklin, 318 S.C. 47, 456 S.E.2d 357 (1995); State v. Bell, 302 S.C. 18, 393 S.E.2d 364 (1990).