Opinion ID: 1778765
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 23

Heading: Chanteau Bowens

Text: ś 134. Manning argues that it is clear from the record that Bowens was able to consider the death penalty, and that her statements concerning the imposition of it were unequivocal. This contention is not supported by the record. On her jury questionnaire Bowens stated that she could never vote to impose the death penalty. On individual voir dire, Bowens equivocated back and forth. She first said that she could give the death penalty if it was due. She also said that at the beginning of the sentencing phase she would be favoring life over death. Then, she again stated that if the evidence warranted it, she could give the death penalty. Next, she said that given the two options, she would have to choose life over death. Then, one more time, she said that she could vote for the death penalty. ś 135. In Wainwright v. Witt, 469 U.S. 412, 105 S.Ct. 844, 83 L.Ed.2d 841 (1985), the United States Supreme Court attempted to clarify the exclusion standard in death penalty cases, set out in Witherspoon. The appropriate standard is; whether the juror's views would prevent or substantially impair the performance of his duties as a juror in accordance with his instructions and his oath. We note that, in addition to dispensing with Witherspoon's reference to automatic decision making, this standard likewise does not require that a juror's bias be proved with unmistakable clarity. This is because determinations of juror bias cannot be reduced to question-and-answer sessions which obtain results in the manner of a catechism ....many veniremen simply cannot be asked enough questions to reach the point where their bias has been made unmistakably clear; these veniremen may not know how they will react when faced with imposing the death sentence, or may be unable to articulate, or may wish to hide their true feelings ....there will be situations where the trial judge is left with the definite impression that a prospective juror would be unable to faithfully and impartially apply the law ....deference must be paid to the trial judge who sees and hears the juror. Balfour v. State, 598 So.2d 731, 755 (Miss.1992)(quoting Wainwright, 469 U.S. at 424-25, 105 S.Ct. 844). This Court has said that the determination of whether a juror is fair and impartial is a judicial question. This Court will not set aside a trial court's determination that a juror is fair and impartial unless such determination clearly appears wrong. Carr v. State, 555 So.2d 59, 60 (Miss. 1989). ś 136. It is clear from a reading of the record that Bowens was excused, over defense objection, because of her equivocation on the death penalty. Her statement that she would have to choose life over death demonstrates that her views would prevent or substantially impair her duties as a juror in accordance with her oath. Affording the appropriate deference to the trial judge who saw and heard Bowens, we cannot say that he abused his discretion. This claim of error is without merit.