Opinion ID: 1207978
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Death Qualifying Potential Jurors

Text: During voir dire the panelists were asked whether they had conscientious or religious objections to the death penalty that would prevent them from voting for a first degree murder conviction. Only one panelist raised her hand; she faced further inquiry by the court and stated that it would not influence her decision on whether defendant was guilty. No prospective jurors were excused because of their views on capital punishment. Defendant argues that death-qualified juries are pro-prosecution and therefore biased and that a death-qualified jury is not drawn from a fair cross-section of the community. Because defense counsel made no objection on this basis, the issue would normally be waived. State v. Herrera, 176 Ariz. 9, 15, 859 P.2d 119, 125, cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 114 S.Ct. 446, 126 L.Ed.2d 379 (1993). However, defendant appears to be arguing that death qualification of a jury is fundamental error. There is no error, fundamental or otherwise. Defendant acknowledges that accepting his argument would require changing both state and federal case law. See Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 424 n. 5, 105 S.Ct. 844, 852 n. 5, 83 L.Ed.2d 841 (1985); Salazar, 173 Ariz. at 411, 844 P.2d at 578.