Opinion ID: 1709776
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Failure to Conduct Proper Voir Dire

Text: Dillbeck's second ineffectiveness claim is based on trial counsel's alleged failure to exercise a for-cause challenge against biased jurors. In order to prove deficient performance in this claim, Dillbeck must establish that trial counsel had a reasonable basis to assert for-cause challenges against these jurors. Reaves v. State, 826 So.2d 932, 939 (Fla.2002). Dillbeck claims two grounds for which counsel should have asserted for-cause challenges: (1) exposure to pretrial publicity; and (2) inclination to impose the death penalty. The postconviction trial court made these findings on this issue, which are supported by competent, substantial evidence. [At the postconviction evidentiary hearing,] [t]rial counsel, Mr. Murrell, testified that he approached jury selection with a genuine concern that a lot' of people would be inclined maybe automatically for death given the circumstances of the case. Mr. Murrell testified that it was pretty clear to me that Mr. Dillbeck was going to get convicted of first degree murder. He went on to testify he hoped that maybe we could get felony murder as opposed to premeditated murder . . . [and] convince a jury to recommend a life sentence. Mr. Murrell testified he approached jury selection with an eye toward getting rid of those you think will be unfavorable and to end up with a jury you have a chance with. Although he talks to his client about potential jurors, he believes the final decision is up to him. As trial counsel explained, jury selection is a give and take. Your best hope is just to get rid of those you think will be unfavorable, and to typically end up with something you hope is at least neutral or that you have got a chance with. Dillbeck testified at the hearing that there were a couple [of] people he had a question about but they were excused. When asked whether he had questions about any other juror, Mr. Dillbeck testified that he did not believe he did. This Court finds Mr. Murrell's testimony regarding jury selection to be credible. The Court also finds that none of the jurors were biased due to their exposure to pre-trial publicity, and thus, this Court would not have granted the cause challenges had counsel made such challenges. The seven actual jurors were not subject to challenge for cause because, while most of them were exposed to pre-trial publicity, each assured the trial court that they could decide the case based solely on the evidence. None of the actual jurors knew of the prior capital felony conviction. Trial counsel was not ineffective for failing to challenge jurors who were not biased.1 1 Two of the complained of jurors were alternates only who did not participate in the jury's verdict. Dillbeck cannot show prejudice based on alternate jurors that never served. (Record citations omitted.) The trial court concluded that counsel's strategy was reasonable and that there was no legal basis for challenging the jurors. Therefore, the court held that counsel's performance was not deficient. The court also determined that there was no prejudice because each juror was carefully questioned, and no potential bias was found. We agree with the trial court that Dillbeck has demonstrated neither deficiency nor prejudice. First, Dillbeck claims that counsel should have challenged most of the jurors based on exposure to pretrial publicity. More than mere exposure to pretrial publicity must be shown to establish such a claim. As the United States Supreme Court has stated: It is not required . . . that the jurors be totally ignorant of the facts and issues involved. In these days of swift, widespread and diverse methods of communication, an important case can be expected to arouse the interest of the public in the vicinity, and scarcely any of those best qualified to serve as jurors will not have formed some impression or opinion as to the merits of the case. This is particularly true in criminal cases. To hold that the mere existence of any preconceived notion as to the guilt or innocence of an accused, without more, is sufficient to rebut the presumption of a prospective juror's impartiality would be to establish an impossible standard. It is sufficient if the juror can lay aside his impression or opinion and render a verdict based on the evidence presented in court. Irvin v. Dowd, 366 U.S. 717, 722-23, 81 S.Ct. 1639, 6 L.Ed.2d 751 (1961). Thus, the mere fact that most of Dillbeck's jurors were exposed to pretrial publicity and may have formed preconceived opinions on the case is not enough to disqualify them. In this case, each juror was asked about exposure to pretrial publicity, and each juror assured the court that he or she could lay aside any impression or opinion and render a verdict based solely on the evidence presented in court. Second, Dillbeck claims that counsel should have challenged some of the jurors who were inclined to vote for the death penalty. Dillbeck's trial counsel adopted a reasonable trial strategy of avoiding a death sentence by attempting to seat jurors likely to recommend a life sentence. See Harvey v. Dugger, 656 So.2d 1253, 1256 (Fla.1995) (holding that counsel adopted a reasonable strategy not to object to a juror who he felt would be less likely to recommend the death penalty, even though the juror had been exposed to pretrial publicity and stated during voir dire that she could not be impartial). All of Dillbeck's jurors stated that they would vote for life if the mitigating factors outweighed the aggravating factors. This claim is without merit.