Opinion ID: 1801792
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Voir Dire Concealment of Prior Acquaintance

Text: It is undisputed that at petitioner's capital trial none of the trial jurors was specifically asked on voir dire about prior acquaintance with victim Pedersen. Because Juror Jose S. consistently denied acquaintance with Pedersen, Jose S. was not asked at the reference hearing whether he would have disclosed such an acquaintance had he been specifically asked about it on voir dire. The referee made no findings on this point, concluding that it was unnecessary to do so in light of the finding that Jose S. was not personally acquainted with Pedersen. In his brief on the merits in this court, petitioner concedes that his claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, insofar as it is based on counsel's not having specifically inquired during voir dire about prior acquaintance with the victim, is not viable.