Opinion ID: 1520503
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: alleged inadequate voir dire, failure to sequester the jury during voir dire, and failure to sequester the jury

Text: The brief of Calhoun asserts that prior to questioning his attorneys had requested individually sequestered voir dire and that later at trial counsel requested that the jury be sequestered. On these issues the post-conviction judge said: The individual voir dire of each juror conducted away from the presence of the balance of the array is a permitted but not required procedure. Although such a request was made by defense counsel, the matter remained one within the sound discretion of the trial court. Likewise, the determination not to sequester the jury during trial proceedings was a decision made by the trial court in exercising its discretion. No circumstances were offered in evidence to show that the trial court erred in so exercising its discretion. No circumstances were offered to show on what occasions and in what matter the petitioner sustained prejudice as a result of the rulings of the trial court. Petitioner's claim is rejected on its merits. There was no abuse of discretion. Appellate counsel read the entire trial transcript. The requests made by defense counsel and the actions taken by the trial court were not the subjects of appeal. As such they were waived. This court holds that the doctrine of waiver is clearly applicable to these two different but related claims. Calhoun points to no questions he desired on voir dire that were not asked. We agree that the issues were waived. Moreover, the examination on voir dire was in accordance with Rule 752 (now Rule 4-312) applicable to this proceeding and our interpretation of it in Colvin, 299 Md. at 101-03, 472 A.2d at 959-60. The issue of whether to sequester the jury was left by then Rule 543 a 8 (now Rule 2-511) to the discretion of the trial court. We find no error.