Opinion ID: 1265567
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: prior death sentence

Text: Atkins contends that two jurors who admitted reading a newspaper article revealing his prior death sentence should have been excused. We disagree. A voir dire examination must be reviewed in its entirety to determine whether the judge erred in qualifying jurors. State v. Drayton , 293 S.C. 417, 361 S.E. (2d) 329 (1987). In Drayton, supra , we approved the qualification of two prospective jurors who had read newspaper accounts of the case. Each stated she could put aside the prior knowledge, follow the law as charged, and base her verdict upon the evidence presented at trial. 293 S.C. at 422-23, 361 S.E. (2d) 329. Here, both jurors, having stated that they would be guided by the law, the evidence, and no other consideration, were qualified.