Opinion ID: 1781677
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 14

Heading: Crawford Brown

Text: After no responses by prospective juror, Crawford Brown, qualified as grounds for a cause challenge, counsel seized on one of Mr. Brown's early statements that he would wonder why the defendant did not testify. Counsel then attempted to remove him for cause. The court countered, Could it be because he doesn't understand the law; he hasn't been instructed in the law yet? Defendant seems to take the court's remark to the attorneys at sidebar as some type of admission that it should have been instructing the jurors. However, Mr. Brown immediately rehabilitated himself (after making the statement that he would wonder why defendant did not testify), evidencing an understanding that the burden of proof rests with the state. The judge denied the challenge for cause and counsel then exercised a peremptory challenge. Nothing in Mr. Brown's responses merited excusal for cause and the court did not abuse its discretion by denying defendant's cause challenge. Moreover, nothing in Mr. Brown's responses evidenced confusion that could have been clarified by further instruction from the court.