Opinion ID: 1059722
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: individual voir dire and juror questionnaires

Text: Finally, in assignment of error number five, the defendant claims that he was prejudiced by the court's refusal to permit him to mail a questionnaire to each prospective juror. On brief, the defendant also argues that he was denied a full and fair opportunity to examine the venire because the circuit court did not allow him to conduct individual voir dire. The defendant did not include the issue regarding individual voir dire in an assignment of error. Therefore, we will not consider it. Rule 5:17(c). As to the issue properly preserved, we find no error in the circuit court's judgment. The manner in which voir dire is conducted lies within the trial court's discretion, and its decisions concerning voir dire will not be disturbed absent an abuse of discretion. Fisher v. Commonwealth, 236 Va. 403, 410-41, 374 S.E.2d 46, 50 (1988), cert. denied, 490 U.S. 1028, 109 S.Ct. 1766, 104 L.Ed.2d 201 (1989). We have previously decided that a trial court did not abuse its discretion by refusing to allow a defendant to send a questionnaire to prospective jurors. Hedrick v. Commonwealth, 257 Va. 328, 337, 513 S.E.2d 634, 639 (1999); Strickler v. Commonwealth, 241 Va. 482, 489-90, 404 S.E.2d 227, 232, cert. denied, 502 U.S. 944, 112 S.Ct. 386, 116 L.Ed.2d 337 (1991). Such a practice would detract from the trial judge's `opportunity to observe and evaluate ... prospective jurors first hand.' Id. at 490, 404 S.E.2d at 232 (quoting Pope v. Commonwealth, 234 Va. 114, 124, 360 S.E.2d 352, 358 (1987), cert. denied, 485 U.S. 1015, 108 S.Ct. 1489, 99 L.Ed.2d 716 (1988)). [T]he opportunity to see and hear the veniremen, when questioned during voir dire, is crucial to the effective discharge of the trial judge's responsibility. Strickler, 241 Va. at 490, 404 S.E.2d at 232. Thus, we conclude that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion. [13]