Opinion ID: 2428851
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: voir dire on the issue of punishment

Text: The appellants claim it was reversible error to deny their counsel the opportunity to question the venire about whether the jurors could consider the entire range of penalties in the event a guilty verdict was returned. During voir dire the trial court sustained objection to defense counsel's mention of the penalties possible in this case. In Shields v. Commonwealth, Ky., 812 S.W.2d 152, 153 (1991), we held: In order to be qualified to sit as a juror in a criminal case, a member of the venire must be able to consider any possible punishment. If he cannot, then he properly may be challenged for cause. Here the appellants were denied the right to meaningful voir dire on the issue of punishment. Since both received the maximum sentence on all charges, we can hardly say that it was harmless error to deny meaningful inquiry into whether the jurors were open to consideration of a lesser sentence within the range of possible penalties, should circumstances warrant it. This Shields error requires reversing the judgment as to penalty. It would not, per se, require setting aside the findings of guilt, were it not for further errors discussed below.