Opinion ID: 2274894
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: denial of motions to strike three jurors for cause

Text: Appellant argues that the trial court erred in failing to strike Juror Nos. 227428, 200949, and 195639 for cause. During voir dire, the prosecutor asked if any juror had been a witness to a crime. Juror No. 227428 asked to approach the bench and explained that he had been mugged by two men, four or five years ago, while he was outside walking. One of the men hit him in the face, knocking him to the ground, and causing him to lose two teeth. The juror noted the men were on a rampage that resulted in a total of fifteen victims, but that they were caught, pled guilty, and were serving thirty-year sentences. When the trial court asked if this meant that he would be a good juror for the Commonwealthbecause he had been victimized himself, wouldn't stand for it anymore and would want the defendant to go down for whatever it was said that he didthe juror responded no, explaining that he was a high school teacher and that he had a group of twenty students he dealt with daily who were probably on their way to the judicial system. When the court asked if the experience would color his ability to be fair, the juror stated, I don't think it will, and further agreed that he believed in the presumption of innocence, would require the Commonwealth to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and could consider the entire penalty range. Later, during Appellant's voir dire, defense counsel reminded the jury that Appellant was charged with five separate bank robberies and posed the following question: I want to ask you if that information alone makes it more likely to you that Troy Tunstull is guilty of those robberies than a person who is just charged with one robbery? Juror No. 203006 stated that he was more inclined to think yes because of the frequency. He then clarified that it does not mean he is guilty but makes it more likely. When defense counsel asked if any other jurors felt the same way, Juror No. 204968 raised his hand and agreed that the statistics made it hard to get it wrong five times. Juror No. 200949 then nodded her head in agreement and stated that it may be a mistake if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time once but that it makes you question when it is repeated over and over again. Juror No. 195639 agreed with these jurors, commenting that it sounds like a pattern and that it made it likely he committed the crimes but maybe not. Appellant moved to strike Juror Nos. 227428, 203006, 204968, 200949, and 195639 for cause. As to No. 227428, the high school teacher, Appellant argued that his tone and commentary concerning his students indicated that he prejudges which people will end up in the judicial system. [10] The trial court denied the motion, finding that this reason did not rise to the level of cause. As to Juror Nos. 203006, 204968, 200949, and 195639, Appellant argued that these jurors believed that a person charged with multiple offenses was more likely to be guilty. The trial court denied the motions, finding that these jurors' answers were fair commentary and reasonable explanations with regard to the question posed. Juror No. 203006 was removed from the venire for other reasons, and Juror No. 204968 was subsequently removed by random draw. Appellant used peremptory strikes against Juror Nos. 227428, 200949 and 195639. On appeal, Appellant contends that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to excuse Juror Nos. 227428, 200949, and 195639 for cause. The trial court is required to excuse a juror if there is a reasonable basis to believe the juror cannot be fair and impartial. RCr 9.36(1). Whether a juror possesses a `mental attitude of appropriate indifference' must be reviewed in the totality of the circumstances. Montgomery v. Commonwealth, 819 S.W.2d 713, 718 (Ky.1991) (quoting United States v. Wood, 299 U.S. 123, 145-46, 57 S.Ct. 177, 81 L.Ed. 78 (1936)). A trial court's decision whether to excuse a juror for cause is reviewed for abuse of discretion. Shane v. Commonwealth, 243 S.W.3d 336, 338 (Ky.2007). Having reviewed the video record, we see no abuse of discretion as to the trial court's failure to strike any of these jurors for cause. The tone of Juror No. 227428 towards his students was not one of prejudging people, but was sympathetic in nature, more saddened by what he believed would be these students' futures. As to Juror No. 200949 and Juror No. 195639, we agree with the trial court that their answers were reasonable responses to the question posed by defense counsel, and did not indicate that they could not be fair or impartial. No abuse of discretion occurred.