Opinion ID: 2009054
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: seating of the twelfth juror

Text: The appellant next contends that the court below erred in refusing to sustain his objection to the seating of the twelfth juror. We hold that the juror was correctly selected. Pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P., Rule 1106(e)(2), 42 Pa.C.S.A., the court below conducted a collective voir dire of the jury array. The appellant did not object to the selection of this procedure until counsel had exhausted his peremptory challenges and had learned the identity of the prospective twelfth juror. The appellant asserts that the failure of the court to supply him with a roster of jurors, detailing the order in which alternates were to be selected, resulted in an unfair selection process. We note initially that the appellant has not alleged any material prejudice arising from the selection process. Nor does the appellant argue that the process failed to conform to Rule 1106(e)(2). We agree with the court below that the purpose of voir dire is not to provide counsel with the basis for exercising peremptory challenges, but is limited to the determination of whether a juror is subject to being challenged for cause, for lack of qualification, or for holding a fixed opinion or bias. Commonwealth v. England, 474 Pa. 1, 375 A.2d 1292 (1977); see also Commonwealth v. Stago, 267 Pa.Super. 90, 406 A.2d 533 (1979). The appellant has not shown that the selection process failed to secure a competent, fair, impartial and unprejudiced jury. Commonwealth v. McGrew, 375 Pa. 518, 100 A.2d 467 (1953). The court below did not abuse its discretion in denying the appellant's motion.