Opinion ID: 1262473
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Phyllis J. Daines

Text: During the voir dire of Phyllis J. Daines, Eaton's counsel posed several lengthy questions, essentially asking whether she would automatically impose the death penalty if Eaton were proved guilty. Initially, Daines answered, Yes. When the trial court asked her if she meant to say automatically, Daines emphatically stated: I would not automatically impose the death penalty. Eaton contends that Juror Daines was clearly death prone. On the contrary, the record indicates that she would not automatically impose the death sentence. Her only error was in responding yes to a lengthy and confusing question posed by Eaton's counsel which contained the word automatically. When the question was posed in clear and unambiguous terms by the trial court, the juror responded that she would abide by the trial court's instructions. There was no error in seating juror Daines.