Opinion ID: 1058506
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: denial of individual and sequestered voir dire of the venire

Text: The defendant claims that the trial court erred in denying his motion for individual, sequestered voir dire of the jury panel. The prevailing voir dire practice is to examine jurors collectively. State v. Austin, 87 S.W.3d 447, app. at 471 (Tenn.2002), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___ (2003). There is no requirement in capital cases that death qualification of a capital jury be conducted by individual, sequestered voir dire. Id. (citing State v. Stephenson, 878 S.W.2d 530, 540 (Tenn.1994)). Moreover, as a general rule, the decision to allow individual voir dire of prospective jurors is within the discretion of the trial court. Stephenson, 878 S.W.2d at 540. The defendant has failed to show the trial court abused its discretion in denying his motion for individual, sequestered voir dire.