Opinion ID: 2317271
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: defendant's request for voir dire questions of prospective jurors

Text: In addition to the questions normally propounded to the jury panel, the defendant, Billy Bailey, by and through his counsel, Nancy Jane Mullen and Howard F. Hillis, respectfully requests that the following questions be asked: 1. Are you related to, or a close friend of, anyone who has been or now is employed by any police agency? 2. Are you related to, or a close friend of, anyone who has been or now is employed by the Attorney General's Office? 3. Are you related to, or a close friend of, the defendant in this case, Billy Bailey, or any members of his family? 4. Were you related to, or a close friend of, the alleged victims in this case, or any members of their family? 5. Have you read or heard anything about this case through the news media? 6. If the answer to Question #5 is yes: a. What do you recall having read or heard about this case through the news media? b. Did you discuss with anyone else what you read or heard about this case through the news media? c. Have you formed an opinion as to the defendant's guilt or innocence in this case, as a result of what you read or heard through the news media or discussed with anyone else? d. Would anything you read or heard about this case through the news media make it difficult for you to render a fair and impartial decision in the case, based on the evidence introduced at trial and the instructions given you by the Court? 7. Do you have any objections to, or conscientious or religious scruples against, imposition of the death penalty?[] 8. If the answer to Question #7 is yes:[] a. Would your objections or scruples regarding the death penalty prevent you from making a fair and impartial decision as to the defendant's guilt in a capital case, regardless of the facts and circumstances of the case? (If the answer is yes or equivocal, explore further). b. Would your objections or scruples regarding the death penalty make it impossible for you to vote for a penalty of death in a capital case, regardless of the facts and circumstances of the case? (If the answer is yes or equivocal, explore further). 9. Would the nature of the offenses charged against the defendant in this case make it difficult for you to render a fair and impartial verdict, based on the evidence introduced at trial and the instructions given you by the Court? 10. Have you, or has anyone close to you, ever been the victim of a crime of violence? 11. Do you understand that in a criminal case the burden of proof is on the State to establish the defendant's guilt of the crimes with which he is charged beyond a reasonable doubt, and do you believe you could give effect to this principle during your deliberations, if selected as a juror in this case? 12. Would you be able to render a fair and impartial verdict in this case, based on the evidence introduced at trial and the instructions given you by the Court, without being influenced by sympathy, vengeance, bias or favor of any kind, of fear, including the fear of later criticism or the possibility of favorable comment? 13. Do you know of any reason at all why you could not sit as a fair and impartial juror in this case? Respectfully submitted, /s/ Nancy Jane Mullen Nancy Jane Mullen, Esquire Assistant Public Defender /s/ Howard F. Hillis Howard F. Hillis, Esquire Assistant Public Defender State Office Building 820 French Street Wilmington, Delaware 19801