Opinion ID: 2463945
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Venireperson Houston

Text: During the state's voir dire, venireperson Houston stated that he was unsure whether he could vote for death, that he could do so in extreme cases only. He stated that if he did vote for death he would not mind telling the defendant. Mr. Houston stated that he could sign a death verdict, but only in some extreme case and he could hardly imagine it. Mr. Houston also stated: I read the book `Dead Man Walking' this nun wrote down in Louisiana. And she's kind of convincing, if you understand. Well, the death penalty is just dished out to poor people, minorities, and such as that, and it costs the state so much more money to put somebody to death than to hold them. That's -She's kind of convinced me of her thinking on that. That's how I feel. The court sustained the state's motion to strike Mr. Houston for cause. The record supports the trial court's ruling. The totality of Houston's statements provided a basis for the trial court to conclude that Houston's views on the death penalty would substantially impair his ability to follow the court's instructions. See Rousan, 961 S.W.2d at 839-40; Brown, 902 S.W.2d at 285; McMillin, 783 S.W.2d at 93. A trial court's determination whether to excuse a juror for cause is not dependent upon a technical evaluation of the venireperson's use of magic words. Instead, it is heavily weighted to the impressions of the trial court and the exercise of the court's judgment and discretion. See Kreutzer, 928 S.W.2d at 866; Rousan, 961 S.W.2d at 839; McMillin, 783 S.W.2d at 91-93. Here, the trial court stated: The Court, of course, we're down to 13 now. And the Court in observing Mr. Houston, I think it started out he could consider. When it got down those, I heard things like: not sure, hesitant, maybe in extreme cases, might be possible case. And I'll have to say, in looking at his demeanor and way he was hesitant, he took his glasses off several times, I'll have to say that the Court's impression in considering all those, I believe under Witherspoon and Witt, that I just think it would prevent him or substantially impair his performance. You know, I have the impression he's unable to faithfully in impartially apply the law in this case. The Court's going to at this time strike Number  it was Number 1 here, but it was Number 3 on the list. This careful exercise of discretion by an experienced trial judge is precisely what is required. The trial court did not err in striking venireperson Houston for cause.