Opinion ID: 1809585
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Improper Curtailment of Voir Dire

Text: Defendant alleges numerous errors by the trial judge during jury selection. In particular, defendant asserts he was denied the full voir dire guaranteed by La. Const. art. I, § 17. [5] He claims that problems with courtroom noise, the fast pace of jury selection and limitations on questioning of prospective jurors compromised his trial counsel's ability to make rational decisions on challenges for cause and peremptory strikes. The scope of voir dire examination lies within the sound discretion of the trial court, and its rulings will not be disturbed on appeal in the absence of a clear abuse of that discretion. Although a court has discretion to restrict voir dire, it must nevertheless afford the attorneys wide latitude in examining prospective jurors as a means of giving effect to an accused's constitutional right to a full voir dire. La. Const. art. I, § 17; La. Code Crim. Proc. art. 786; State v. Maxie, 93-2158 (La. 4/10/95); 653 So.2d 526, 534-535. Thus, while a trial court has control over the scope of jury selection and may limit voir dire accordingly, the limitations may not be so restrictive as to deprive counsel of a reasonable opportunity to determine grounds for challenges for cause and for the intelligent exercise of peremptory challenges. State v. Duplessis, 457 So.2d 604, 606 (La. 1984). In deciding whether a trial court has afforded the defendant sufficiently wide latitude in examining potential jurors, the appellate court should undertake review of the record of the voir dire as a whole. Id. Defendant complains that noise was a problem during voir dire and that the judge erroneously believed that venire persons seated in the courtroom could hear counsels' remarks and questions, as well as responses by those in the jury box. According to the trial judge, the noise problem was caused by recently installed air conditioning units located outside the courtroom, coupled with poor acoustics. Although the trial judge repeatedly urged everyone to project his or her voice, the record does not reflect that any venire persons in the jury box or sitting in the courtroom indicated a problem hearing. Further, the judge asked each subsequent panel called for examination if everyone had heard what had been said previously, and no juror indicated he or she had not heard or had heard poorly. On this record, defendant failed to establish that the noise level was such as to constitute a denial of due process or prevented the full voir dire constitutionally guaranteed to the defendant. As to the pace of jury selection, the twelve jurors and one alternate were selected and sworn before the lunch break, which defense counsel characterizes as an unusually rapid pace for a capital case. However, defendant's trial counsel did not object to the pace of voir dire. On appeal, new counsel argues the fast pace of jury selection barred defense counsel from probing venire persons on issues pertinent to the proceeding, such as capital punishment, homosexuality, substance abuse, the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination, the presumption of innocence and pre-trial publicity. Upon review of the record, we note that defense counsel covered these and other pertinent issues such as church affiliation and attendance, the impropriety of a guilty verdict solely to protest against crime, the need for unanimity, and the credibility of police witnesses. [6] Defendant's primary complaint was that the trial court restricted questioning of venire persons to the point that he was denied the constitutionally guaranteed wide latitude and full examination. Although the trial judge indicated during the examination of the first panel that the attorneys should frame their queries pertaining to the death penalty so jurors could respond with a yes or no, [7] the judge did not hold either side to a rigid, inflexible standard. Rather, the judge permitted the attorneys to probe preconceptions, both individually and as a group, as well to conduct in-depth questioning when a juror's views might constitute grounds for disqualification. Furthermore, it was not unreasonable for the trial judge to direct that the examination of subsequent panels should move more quickly than the first, with the specific exception of questions on capital punishment. Those venire persons subsequently examined were present for the examination of the first panel and thus had heard the attorneys' comments and questions. Although, for purposes of brevity, both sides appropriately adapted by examining subsequent panels of veniremen in the jury box as a group and by asking for raised hands or nods of heads, the defense was still permitted to examine these panelists individually and to revisit critical issues that were presented to the first panel. Moreover, the court permitted closer questioning and repetition during voir dire of the subsequent panels because of the problems with the courtroom acoustics. Defendant also complains the trial judge personally examined the final six-person panel to select an alternate. Nonetheless, there was no error because the judge thereafter invited and permitted questions from each side.