Opinion ID: 1855709
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Improper denial of challenges for cause/ defendant's assignment of error number 7

Text: In this assignment of error, the defendant contends the trial court erred by denying his challenges for cause as to seven jurors. The trial judge's incorrect ruling that deprives a defendant of one of his peremptory challenges is a substantial violation of a statutory or constitutional right and dictates reversal of the conviction and sentence. State v. Bourque, 622 So.2d 198, 225 (La.1993), overruled on other grounds by State v. Comeaux, 93-2729 (La.7/1/97), 699 So.2d 16, citing State v. McIntyre, 365 So.2d 1348, 1351 (La.1978). For a defendant to successfully prevail on a claim that he was deprived of one of his peremptory challenges due to the trial judge's erroneous ruling on his challenge for cause, he must show: (1) his challenge for cause was improperly denied; and (2) he has used all of his peremptory challenges. State v. Cross, 93-1189 (La.6/30/95), 658 So.2d 683; Bourque, 622 So.2d at 225. Defendant's peremptory challenge sheet, which is part of the record, shows that he exercised only eight of the twelve peremptory challenges that he is given by La. C.Cr.P. art. 799. Thus, we are not required to reach the issue of whether the trial judge erroneously denied the challenges for cause that are the subject of this assignment of error. See, e.g. State v. Koon, 96-1208 (La.5/20/97), 704 So.2d 756, cert denied ___ U.S. ___, 118 S.Ct. 570, ___ L.Ed.2d ___ ( we need not reach the issue of whether the failure to dismiss [prospective juror] Ms. Myers for cause was error because the defense did not use all its peremptory challenges); State v. Mitchell, 94-2078 (La.5/21/96), 674 So.2d 250 (In the instant case, we need not reach the issue of whether there was an erroneous denial of defendant's challenge for cause, since the record reveals that defendant failed to use all his peremptory challenges.). This assignment of error thus lacks merit.