Opinion ID: 2546413
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Voir Dire Procedure

Text: At the beginning of voir dire, the trial court asked prospective jurors whether they wished to be excused for hardship. Those whose claim of hardship the court accepted were excused. Those remaining were asked to fill out a 24-page juror questionnaire. The questionnaire asked jurors to reveal their place of residence, occupation, military service, marital status, education, and contacts with the justice system. It also asked jurors whether they had heard about defendant's case or about defendant and, if so, whether the information about the case made them favor the prosecution or the defense, what newspapers they read and television news they watched, and whether they followed other crime stories in the news. Finally, the questionnaire asked several questions regarding the jurors' views about the death penalty. The court photocopied the completed questionnaires and distributed copies to both the prosecutor and defense counsel. The trial court, having decided to choose six alternate jurors for this trial, called the first 18 prospective jurors, 12 to sit in the jury box and six to sit as alternates. The trial court asked each juror in open court whether the juror wished to change any of his or her answers in the questionnaire. The court then asked the jurors individually four questions regarding their willingness and ability to return a verdict of first degree murder, to sustain a special circumstance allegation, and to vote for either life imprisonment or for the death penalty. Questions regarding sensitive and personal matters were asked at the bench, out of the hearing of the other jurors, but the balance of the questioning was done in open court. Some jurors were excused on stipulation by both sides, some by the court on its own motion, and some for cause due to their views on the death penalty. The trial court then had all prospective jurors leave the courtroom and entertained challenges for cause from the parties. When both sides indicated they intended to make no further challenges for cause, the jury was brought in and the parties exercised their peremptory challenges. The procedure continued until 12 jurors and six alternates were chosen.