Opinion ID: 2761072
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Prospective juror Hemphill

Text: {¶ 65} On her jury questionnaire, Hemphill answered the question, “Please describe your views on the death penalty,” as follows: Mixed: If someone commits murder should they experience to appreciate the extent of their crime? or If murder is so horrible and final should we go there when we have alternatives for punishment? {¶ 66} Hemphill also stated that she had received a J.D. degree from Northern Kentucky University but decided not to practice law. She added, “Night school paid by employer, Cincinnati Bell. After working with corporate legal departments, I decided that I did not want to have to argue or win for a living.” (Underlining sic.) {¶ 67} During voir dire, the prosecutor asked Hemphill for her views on the death penalty: Mr. Tieger [the prosecutor]:    As far as the death penalty, can you tell me what your views on the death penalty are? Prospective juror 2: They’re mixed. I haven’t resolved it one way or the other, and I said that on my application. Mr. Tieger: I’m sure you thought about it a lot over the weekend? Prospective juror 2: No, I didn’t. Mr. Tieger: Just when you got here today? Prospective juror 2: I tried to be Scarlett O’Hara on difficult topics. 18 January Term, 2014 Mr. Tieger: Tell me about the mixed feelings you have. Prospective juror 2: Well, on the one hand, if someone takes a life or takes several lives, why should they be able to enjoy their life? Then on the other hand, if it’s such a heinous crime, one that we have very strong penalties for, then why would we use that as a solution when there are other alternatives, so I’m constantly going back and forth. Mr. Tieger: Correct me if I’m wrong, that one of your thoughts is that life in prison is a worse penalty than the death penalty because they will have time to reflect on what they did? Prospective juror 2: I don’t know if it’s worse. It’s an alternative. Mr. Tieger: I’m just reading your form: If someone commits murder, should they experience to appreciate the extent of their crime, or if murder is so horrible and violent, should we go there when we have alternatives for punishment? On the one hand, if it’s so bad maybe the death penalty is appropriate, and the other, they should have to just sit in jail for the rest of their lives as well. Prospective juror 2: I don’t know. It would depend on the circumstance. I’m just saying if you ask me how I feel about the death penalty, I play devil’s advocate with myself and say on the one hand, what’s the ultimate punishment? On the other hand, what do we as a society want to say about ourselves, and so how you reconcile that, or can you ever reconcile that? Mr. Tieger: What I’m asking you, can you reconcile that within yourself in terms of this particular case? 19 SUPREME COURT OF OHIO Prospective Juror 2: As far as the case, once I hear the case, then I will be able to do that versus the general question of whether there should be the death penalty.