Opinion ID: 1781968
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: the trial judge's remarks pertaining to religion were in violation of the first amendment's establishment clause made applicable to the states by the fourteenth amendment which resulted in an unfair trial for ronald chris foster.

Text: Foster contends the trial court twice violated the provision of the First Amendment against the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ... U.S. Const. Amend. I. First, Foster complains of questioning of a venireman by the trial judge during voir dire. Although the judge at one point did state that the law I will instruct you [venireperson # 18] on will not conflict in any way with [H]is law at all, the judge then added that the juror's interpretation of ... God's law may be different than what I instruct you. Second, Foster objects to the judge's requesting a moment of silence in honor of the troops serving in the Persian Gulf prior to the beginning of proceedings one morning. It is clear from a review of the entire voir dire by the trial judge that his questions of venireperson # 18 were directed toward whether or not that individual could follow the law as he was instructed or whether his religious views would substantially impair his performance as a juror. We are of the opinion that neither the voir dire of this prospective juror nor the moment of silence was sufficient to prove a violation of the Establishment Clause under the applicable test as articulated by the United States Supreme Court in Edwards v. Aguillard, 482 U.S. 578, 107 S.Ct. 2573, 96 L.Ed.2d 510 (1987). The record contains no objection by Foster at trial to either of these alleged violations of the First Amendment which he now seeks to raise before this Court. See Cole v. State, 525 So.2d 365 (Miss. 1987), cert. denied, 488 U.S. 934, 109 S.Ct. 330, 102 L.Ed.2d 348 (1988). This assignment is rejected as being both procedurally barred and without merit.