Opinion ID: 1314848
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: the jury panel

Text: Voir dire of the jury panel in this case revealed that one juror was a close friend of the special prosecutor and his wife and that the juror's husband was the Democratic nominee for sheriff of Mercer County. The defendant's motion to strike this juror for cause was denied by the trial court. The defendant relies on State v. West, 157 W.Va. 209, 200 S.E.2d 859 (1973), and State v. Pratt, 244 S.E.2d 227 (W.Va.1978), in assigning the trial court's action as error. In Pratt we held, at syllabus point 3: Jurors who on voir dire of the panel indicate possible prejudice should be excused, or should be questioned individually either by the court or by counsel to precisely determine whether they entertain bias or prejudice for or against either party, requiring their excuse. In West we said: ... [W]hen the defendant can demonstrate even a tenuous relationship between a prospective juror and any prosecutorial or enforcement arm of State government, defendant's challenge for cause should be sustained by the court. A defendant is entitled to a panel of twenty jurors who are free from exception, and if proper objection is raised at the time of impaneling the jury, it is reversible error for the court to fail to discharge a juror who is obviously objectionable. In any case where the trial court is in doubt, the doubt must be resolved in favor of the defendant's challenge, as jurors who have no relation whatsoever to the State are readily available. 200 S.E.2d at 866. The State argues on this appeal that the juror involved in this case did not have even a tenuous relationship with the prosecutor or a law enforcement officer. In light of the rights that the voir dire process is designed to protect and the facts of this case, we cannot agree with that contention. The purpose of voir dire is to assure that the defendant's right to a jury free of interest, bias or prejudice is protected and effectuated. Voir dire works to protect that right not only by providing the basis for challenges for cause but also by providing a basis to enable a litigant and his counsel to exercise reasonable judgment in utilizing peremptory challenges. State v. Pendry, 227 S.E.2d 210 (W.Va.1976). We noted in State v. Pendry, supra , that a prospective juror may, without his own knowledge or admission, have a demonstrable prejudice or bias. The defendant was entitled to a panel free of members who had even a tenuous relationship with the prosecutorial or enforcement arm of the State. The trial court's refusal to strike the panel member in this case was error under State v. West, supra .