Opinion ID: 1985406
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: subjective bias

Text: [3] ¶ 21. A prospective juror is subjectively biased if the record reflects that the juror is not a reasonable person who is sincerely willing to set aside any opinion or prior knowledge that the prospective juror might have. Id. at 745. In Faucher, we stated that subjective bias refers to the bias that is revealed by the prospective juror on voir dire : it refers to the prospective juror's state of mind. Faucher at 717. Subjective bias leads to a judicial determination that the juror is biased in fact. Subjective bias is usually discerned from the prospective juror's verbal responses to questions as well as the juror's demeanor in giving those responses. Kiernan at 745. These observations are best within the province of the circuit court. Id. Therefore, whether a prospective juror is subjectively biased is a factual determination of the circuit court that will be upheld unless the decision is clearly erroneous.