Opinion ID: 663165
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure to Exclude Juror

Text: 53 MoPac contends that the district court should have excused juror Counselman for cause. Trial court decisions concerning the seating or excusing of jurors are  'in the discretion of the trial court, and such decisions will be reversed only where there has been an abuse of discretion.'  United States v. Bedonie, 913 F.2d 782, 795 (10th Cir.1990), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 111 S.Ct. 2895, 115 L.Ed.2d 1059 (1991) (quoting Anderson v. Dun & Bradstreet, Inc., 543 F.2d 732, 734 (10th Cir.1976)). After reviewing the record, we determine that given the thorough voir dire of the jury in general, and of Ms. Counselman in particular, the trial court reasonably concluded she could set aside any prior impressions and  'render a verdict based on the evidence presented in court.'  Murphy v. Florida, 421 U.S. 794, 800, 95 S.Ct. 2031, 2036, 44 L.Ed.2d 589 (1975) (quoting Irwin v. Dowd, 366 U.S. 717, 723, 81 S.Ct. 1639, 1642, 6 L.Ed.2d 751 (1961)). The district court did not abuse its discretion by allowing Counselman to serve on the jury. 54