Opinion ID: 2616147
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: voir dire guidelines

Text: There will always be some veniremen who try to avoid jury duty by claiming they are biased. But there are better ways of dealing with the problem than tainting the entire jury panel. Patterson v. State, supra, 691 P.2d at 271 (Brown, J., specially concurring). Trial judges may inform the jurors that those who are unable to serve on the present panel will be eligible for selection on the next case. Section 1-11-123, W.S. 1977. The judges can emphasize the purpose and importance of jury service. And, if necessary, they can reprimand the shirkers in chambers after they are excused. A criminal defendant has a right to an impartial jury. Collins v. State, Wyo., 589 P.2d 1283, 1289 (1979); Irvin v. Dowd, 366 U.S. 717, 81 S.Ct. 1639, 1642, 6 L.Ed.2d 751 (1961). It is the trial judge's duty to make sure that he gets one. Redwine v. Fitzhugh, 78 Wyo. 407, 329 P.2d 257, 260 (1958). In fact, the United States Supreme Court has said that a trial judge must be zealous in protecting the rights of the accused during jury selection. Dennis v. United States, 339 U.S. 162, 70 S.Ct. 519, 521, 523, 94 L.Ed. 734 (1950). A trial judge should not allow either his own impatience or his annoyance with jurors to interfere with his responsibility to ensure an impartial jury. I would have reversed and remanded for a new trial.