Opinion ID: 1355273
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Motion to use jury questionnaires including specific questions about the death penalty

Text: Defendant Thomas filed a motion for a jury questionnaire specifically including death penalty questions. The trial court permitted a jury questionnaire to be used but declined to include death penalty questions. Defendant Thomas claims that, in so doing, the trial court erred. The trial court committed no error in denying Defendant Thomas' request. A trial court is vested with great discretion in determining how voir dire examination will be conducted, and the court's decision on how extensive a voir dire examination is required will not be overturned except for an abuse of the discretion. See State v. Howell, 868 S.W.2d 238, 247 (Tenn.1993), cert. den. 510 U.S. 1215, 114 S.Ct. 1339, 127 L.Ed.2d 687 (1994); State v. Harris, 839 S.W.2d 54, 65 (Tenn.1992), cert. den. 507 U.S. 954, 113 S.Ct. 1368, 122 L.Ed.2d 746 (1993). We find no abuse of discretion in the method of voir dire employed in this case.