Opinion ID: 1740168
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Issue of The Trial Court's Excusal of Two Jurors

Text: The defendants next argue that the trial judge erred in excusing two jurors challenged for cause by the plaintiffs. Because a trial judge has broad discretion in sustaining or denying a challenge of a juror for cause, his decision is given great weight and will not be disturbed on appeal unless it is clearly erroneous and equivalent to an abuse of discretion. Roberts v. Hutchins, 613 So.2d 348 (Ala.1993). The record reflects that, on the plaintiffs' challenges for cause, the trial judge excused Juror 11, an insurance agent who represented the two insurance companies that insured the defendants in this case, and excused Juror 26, a former-real estate broker for Cooper & Company who had appraised homes in the Sunchase subdivision. The defendants have failed to show an abuse of discretion by the trial court.