Opinion ID: 2310530
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Exclusion of Jurors on Religious Grounds

Text: The trial judge posed the following question to each prospective juror: Do you have any religious or moral beliefs which would prevent you from voting for the death penalty in a proper case. (Slip opinion, p. 26.) Appellant contends that jurors were excluded because of religious beliefs which would not permit them to find the death penalty in contravention of Article 1, § 4 of the state constitution, mandating that no person may be disqualified from holding any office or place of trust solely on account of his religious sentiments. Since jury duty constitutes an office or place of trust, refusal to seat a prospective juror who answered the question affirmatively violates our constitution. The argument is without merit and was recently rejected in Commonwealth v. Lewis, 523 Pa. 466, 567 A.2d 1376 (1989). In addition to the fact that the challenge was not raised at the voir dire, jurors were disqualified because of their absolute opposition to the death penalty. The source of that opposition  religious, moral or otherwise  is irrelevant to the law.