Opinion ID: 1058307
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Objections To Jurors

Text: Morva claims that the circuit court erred in not striking juror Vesta Andrews for cause and in striking juror Mary Blevins for cause and that those errors resulted in the empanelling of jurors who were substantially impaired. In United States v. Wood, 299 U.S. 123, 145-46, 57 S.Ct. 177, 81 L.Ed. 78 (1936), the United States Supreme Court stated that the Constitution does not require specific procedures or tests for determining the impartiality of a jury. The qualifications of jurors and the mode of jury selection are without restriction or limitation, except for the requirement of an impartial jury. Id. Morva argues that the circuit court erred in denying his motion to strike juror Vesta Andrews for cause on the grounds that she was substantially impaired as a juror due to her substantial relationship with and connection to law enforcement personnel. On appeal, we give deference to a trial court ruling to retain or exclude a prospective juror because the trial court is in a superior position to judge a prospective juror's responses and make a determination on whether it is proper to seat the juror. Schmitt v. Commonwealth, 262 Va. 127, 139, 547 S.E.2d 186, 195 (2001). Our previous decisions have generally held that a particular relationship does not automatically disqualify a potential juror from being fair and impartial. Juniper, 271 Va. at 406, 626 S.E.2d at 411. Instead, a trial court's determination must be based upon consideration of whether the relationship would prevent a potential juror from performing her duties as a juror, i.e., being fair and impartial. Id. Andrews stated that she was not prejudiced one way or the other based on her relationship with law enforcement personnel. Further, she stated that she would not automatically vote for the death penalty, but would need to hear more evidence before deciding on the appropriate punishment. She stated that she could consider both life imprisonment and the death penalty. Accordingly, there was ample evidence to support the circuit court's finding that her relationship with law enforcement personnel would not lead to an inability to be a fair and impartial juror. As such, we hold that the circuit court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion to strike Andrews from the jury panel for cause. Morva also assigns error to the circuit court's decision to strike juror Mary Blevins because of her stated reservations about imposing the death penalty. However, the United States Supreme Court has stated that excluding prospective jurors who will not vote for the imposition of the death penalty does not contravene the constitutional requirement of obtaining a jury that is a fair cross-section of the community. Lockhart v. McCree, 476 U.S. 162, 174-77, 106 S.Ct. 1758, 90 L.Ed.2d 137 (1986). Instead, death-qualifying a jury serves the state's legitimate interest in obtaining a jury that can impartially apply the law in both the guilt and sentencing phases of trial. Id. at 175-76, 106 S.Ct. 1758. This Court has stated that a prospective juror should be excluded for cause if the juror's views about the death penalty would substantially impair or prevent the performance of the juror's duties in accordance with his oath and the court's instructions. Schmitt, 262 Va. at 139, 547 S.E.2d at 195. As stated above, a trial court is given deference on appellate review of a decision to retain or exclude a prospective juror. Id. Prospective juror Blevins stated in her juror questionnaire that she might have a problem imposing the death penalty due to her religious faith. During voir dire, she again stated that she was not sure if she could sentence someone to death. The circuit court questioned her further, and she stated that she did not think that she could vote to impose the death penalty. Thus, there is sufficient evidence to support a holding by the circuit court that Blevins be excluded from the jury for cause because of her views about the death penalty. The circuit court did not abuse its discretion in excluding her for cause. The circuit court did not abuse its discretion in denying the motion to exclude Andrews, and it did not abuse its discretion in granting the motion to exclude Blevins. Morva cites no other objections to jurors as a basis for his assignment of error concerning the empanelling of the jury. Thus, there is no support for Morva's contention that the circuit court erred in empanelling the jurors who heard his case.