Opinion ID: 1919348
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Cause Exclusion of Prospective Juror.

Text: ś 106. Hodges argues that the trial court erroneously removed venire member number 69 on the grounds that his views on the death penalty seemed unclear. Hodges claims that the juror's views on the death penalty were unequivocal and did not justify a challenge for cause. ś 107. In answering the questionnaire, the juror answered no to the question, could you ever personally vote to impose the death penalty?. During the questioning by the trial judge, the juror said that he could never vote to impose the death penalty and then changed and said that it depended on the crime. The juror also said he had a conscious and moral belief against the death penalty and that he might be able to impose the death penalty in the right case but would have to pray. During the questioning by the State, the juror stated that he could not be fair to the other options because he would favor the verdict of life over death. When Hodges questioned the juror, he changed his answer and stated that after he heard all the evidence he could consider the death penalty. Hodges argues that the juror expressed consistent views throughout the questioning by the court. ś 108. The test for determining when a prospective juror's views on the death penalty justify his removal is whether the trial court finds that the juror's views would prevent or substantially impair the performance of his duties in accordance with his instructions and his oath and leaving the trial court with definite impression that a prospective juror would be unable to faithfully and impartially apply the law. King v. State, 784 So.2d 884, 887 (Miss.2001) (quoting Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 424-26, 105 S.Ct. 844, 852-53, 83 L.Ed.2d 841, 851-52 (1985)). If the judge is concerned with the response given, he must further determine whether the potential juror could follow the law as instructed even if the juror expressed a general disapproval of the death penalty. King, 784 So.2d at 887. This is why deference must be paid to the trial judge who sees and hears the juror. Id. (quoting Wainwright, 469 U.S. at 426, 105 S.Ct. 844). ś 109. This Court has long held that it is the trial judge's domain to judge matters regarding credibility of a witness including prospective jurors. Harris v. State, 527 So.2d 647, 649 (Miss. 1988). The circuit court judge, as he must, has wide discretion in determining whether to excuse any prospective juror, including on challenged for cause. Miss. Winn-Dixie Supermarkets v. Hughes, 247 Miss. 575, 156 So.2d 734, 738 (Miss.1963). However, it is reversible error if one juror is erroneously excused from the jury on the basis of his view on the death penalty. Gray v. Mississippi, 481 U.S. 648, 107 S.Ct. 2045, 95 L.Ed.2d 622 (1987). ś 110. In King, the trial judge excluded three potential jurors because of their contradictory responses to the questions regarding the death penalty. King, 784 So.2d at 888. One of the jurors in King answered no to the question of whether she could personally vote to impose the death penalty. Id. at 886-87. The juror then was asked whether she could impose the death penalty even if the evidence warranted it. Id. at 887. She responded that she would have to hear some evidence first. Id. Another juror stated that she probably could personally impose the death penalty but in the questionnaire she had stated that she could never impose the death penalty. Id. The third juror stated that he could not impose the death penalty but recanted this answer when questioned by defense counsel. Id. This Court concluded that because jurors repeatedly switched positions and since the judge had ample opportunity to observe the jurors, the dismissal was not an abuse of discretion. Id. at 888. This Court also found no reversible error in the trial court's excluding jurors for cause who gave contradictory responses, wavered on their position, and generally appeared confused regarding the death penalty. Dufour v. State, 453 So.2d 337, 341-44 (Miss.1984). ś 111. Likewise, in the case sub judice, the trial judge excluded the prospective juror because of his contradictory responses to the questions regarding the death penalty. This case is analogous to the King case in that the juror stated in his questionnaire that he could never impose the death penalty but during questioning by the court he stated that he may be able to in the right case. He even went further and stated that he would favor life over death but when questioned by defense counsel he recanted this answer and stated that he could consider all possibilities. It goes without saying that a potential juror who cannot give a straight answer would be very unlikely to follow the law. King, 784 So.2d at 888. If jurors provide inconsistent answers regarding their feelings on the stated law of this state, they may be struck for cause. Brown v. State, 890 So.2d 901, 910 (Miss. 2004). Given this potential juror's equivocal stance on the issue, the trial court did not abuse its discretion in striking him for cause.