Opinion ID: 1694712
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Jury Qualification Procedure

Text: We also affirm the denial of relief on Orme's claim that the jury qualification procedure in Bay County was unconstitutional. Orme claims that neither he nor his attorney was present at the general qualification proceeding. Petitioner's challenge to the jury qualification procedure is a matter that should have been raised by objection at trial and argument on appeal.... Thomas v. Wainwright, 495 So.2d 172, 175 (Fla.1986). Orme raises this claim for the first time in this postconviction proceeding. The claim is therefore procedurally barred. Furthermore, the general jury qualification procedure is not a critical stage of trial at which the defendant must be present. See Bates v. State, 750 So.2d 6 (Fla.1999); Wright v. State, 688 So.2d 298 (Fla.1996). In addition, the record does not support Orme's claim that counsel did not attend. There is no record of the proceedings, and defense counsel could not remember whether he attended.