Opinion ID: 1725524
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: whether the court was arbitrary in permitting and denying challenges for cause.

Text: ¶ 27. Sewell asserts that the trial court was arbitrary in the jury selection process by denying her for cause challenges of jurors Phyllis Jeter and Phyllis Green, who were white, while granting the State's for cause challenges of juror Cherry Dunbar, a black, for the same or similar reasons. Sewell's argument is entirely fact-driven, as she has cited no supporting authority. ¶ 28. The method of selecting a jury is within the sound discretion of the trial judge, except in circumstances where the method is set by statute. Peters v. State, 314 So.2d 724, 728-29 (Miss.) cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1019, 96 S.Ct. 457, 46 L.Ed.2d 392(1975). Also, the two jurors in question were ultimately removed by peremptory strikes exercised by Sewell. This Court has held that no reversible error results when the trial court fails to sustain a challenge for cause, and the juror(s) at issue is ultimately excused with a peremptory challenge. Lester v. State, 692 So.2d 755, 790-93 (Miss.1997); see also Holland v. State, 705 So.2d 307, 338 (Miss.1997). ¶ 29. For these reasons, we find that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in his grant or denial of challenges for cause; and, therefore, did not abridge Sewell's due process rights under the United States and Mississippi Constitutions.