Opinion ID: 2802105
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Refusal to consider mitigation

Text: Isom challenged Jurors No. 8, 31, 375, 391, and 398 contending that they would not consider mitigation evidence. The record shows that each of these jurors initially expressed skepticism either on the jury questionnaire or during voir dire itself. But their positions changed after further explanation and inquiry, especially by the trial court. In each instance the trial court explained the manner in which mitigation evidence would be introduced, the reason for the mitigation evidence, and the juror’s obligation to consider that evidence. See Tr. at 1638-66 (Juror No. 8); Tr. at 1856-1910 (Juror No. 31); Tr. at 5643-5717 (Juror No. 375); Tr. at 6030-68 (Juror No. 391); Tr. at 6101-43 (Juror No. 398). It is certainly the case that “[a] juror who will automatically vote for [a particular] penalty in every case will fail in good faith to consider the evidence of aggravating and mitigating circumstances as the instructions require him to do.” Ward v. State, 903 N.E.2d 946, 955 (Ind. 2009) (quoting Morgan v. Illinois, 504 U.S. 719, 729 (1992)), adhered to on reh’g, 908 N.E.2d 595, 597 (Ind. 2009). However, “a constitutionally impartial juror is one who is able and willing to lay aside his or her prior knowledge and opinions, follow the law as instructed by the trial judge, and render a verdict based solely on the evidence presented in court.” Whiting, 969 N.E.2d at 28 (citing Irvin v. Dowd, 366 U.S. 717, 722-23 (1961)). In this case, it was only after assuring itself that the potential juror fully understood his/her duty as explained by the court and genuinely believed that he/she could fulfill such a duty that the trial court denied Isom’s challenges for cause predicated on the jurors’ alleged refusal to consider mitigation evidence. Isom’s claim of error essentially amounts to a request for this Court to reweigh the credibility of the jurors’ declarations. We decline. Credibility determinations lie within the province of the trial court. Cf. Oswalt, 19 N.E.3d at 245 5 (“Selecting impartial juries depends upon the parties’ discernment and the trial court’s discretion to select a panel of objective and unbiased jurors ‘who will conscientiously apply the law and find the facts.’” (quoting Witt, 469 U.S. at 423)). And we will not disturb that finding absent a showing that the trial court’s determination was illogical or arbitrary. Whiting, 969 N.E.2d at 29. We find no such showing in this instance.