Opinion ID: 1611371
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: did the trial court commit reversible error in excusing for cause venirepersons mary magee and ella m. lewis?

Text: At issue in the assigning of this error is whether the two venire persons were excused because of their views on the death penalty or because of their incompetence. The basis for this challenge arises under the holding of Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968). The Witherspoon rule holds that the death penalty could not be imposed where the jury that imposed or recommended it was chosen by excluding veniremen for cause simply because they voiced general objections to the death penalty or expressed conscientious or religious scruples against its infliction. Witherspoon, 391 U.S. at 522, 88 S.Ct. at 1777, 20 L.Ed.2d at 785 (1968). In Adams v. Texas, 448 U.S. 38, 100 S.Ct. 2521, 65 L.Ed.2d 581 (1980), the Court reexamined Witherspoon and held that a juror could not be excluded for cause unless his views about capital punishment would prevent or substantially impair the performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with the court's instructions and his oath. This holding was reaffirmed in Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 105 S.Ct. 844, 83 L.Ed.2d 841 (1985). See also Lockett v. State, 517 So.2d 1317, 1335 (Miss. 1987); Wiley v. State, 484 So.2d 339 (Miss. 1986); Fuselier v. State, 468 So.2d 45, 53-54 (Miss. 1985). To answer the issue of whether the venirepersons were excused because of their death penalty views or their incompetence can be answered by the facts of this record, which are as follows: The State challenged Mary Magee, who slept during the course of voir dire, at first, without the court noticing it. Once she snored; then subsequently while sleeping again, the court said something to her. The voir dire of prospective jurors lasted for three days. Mary McGee indicated that her drowsiness was caused from nervousness. She had not slept well the night before, but she answered that it would not interfere with her jury service. The court struck her for cause because of her incompetency. The State next challenged Ella M. Lewis for cause because she had been disabled since the 1950's, was taking medication for various ailments and was a self-proclaimed genius. Her speech was slurred and she had difficulty responding appropriately to questions. The court had to admonish her on a couple of occasions when she approached the bench at inappropriate times. She was the individual who was one hour and five minutes late for voir dire on the third day. Lewis answered the question that she could serve as a juror, and indicated the reason for her tardiness was that she overslept. The court added that her responses in chambers were at best incoherent, and she too was excused for cause. On a questionnaire and at voir dire, Magee indicated some opposition to imposition of the death penalty. It took long and tedious questioning to qualify her for the jury under Witherspoon, supra, and its progeny. At voir dire, Lewis indicated that she had no conscientious scruples against the infliction of the death penalty when the law and the testimony authorized it in proper cases. However, on her questionnaire, she indicated If it's necessary within the findings, okay. She agreed that there was some difference in those two answers. Woodward asserts that striking these two jurors who were opposed to capital punishment allowed the State to get around the Witherspoon test to save two of their challenges to strike other jurors who were also opposed to capital punishment. Thus, Woodward contends that he was prejudiced by denial of a fair and impartial jury in a death penalty case. Generally, a juror removed on a challenge for cause is one against whom a cause for challenge exists that would likely affect his competency or his impartiality at trial. Billiot v. State, 454 So.2d 445, 457 (Miss. 1984). Under Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 105 S.Ct. 844, 83 L.Ed.2d 841 (1985), the U.S. Supreme Court held that deference must be paid to the trial judge who sees and hears the juror and that the trial judge's determination that a juror is biased will not be reversed where it is supported by the record. It is well founded that the trial judge has the discretion to excuse potential jurors for cause if the court believes the juror could not try the case impartially. Burt v. State, 493 So.2d 1325, 1327 (Miss. 1986). This Court will not lightly interfere with a finding of fact made by the trial judge in a criminal case, and it will reverse only when it is satisfied that the trial court has erred in holding a juror competent, when this Court is clearly of the opinion that he was not a competent juror. Dennis v. State, 91 Miss. 221, 44 So. 825 (1907). See also Norris v. State, 490 So.2d 839 (Miss. 1986); Weaver v. State, 497 So.2d 1089, 1094 (Miss. 1986) (a physical disability, such as deafness, is sufficient to support a challenge for cause). It is this Court's opinion that the trial judge did not err in excusing the sleeping juror or the tardy juror who took numerous medications, and who gave incoherent and contradictory answers. These findings are sufficient and justifiable. This assignment is rejected.