Opinion ID: 1846260
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 9

Heading: whether the trial court improperly excluded various jurors.

Text: ¶ 159. Kolberg next tells us one juror was improperly excluded for cause. The standard of review for the decision to grant or deny a challenge for cause is abuse of discretion. Sewell v. State, 721 So.2d 129, 135-36 (Miss.1998). A review of the record indicates this individual gave conflicting answers regarding his opinion of the death penalty, one moment saying he was in favor of the death penalty, but not the way the death penalty is handled, and then contradicting himself by saying I am against the death penalty because it may be me one day. The following discussion also bears great light on the reasoning behind the trial judge's decision: Q. My question to you is, as a juror, is it your position that you would never consider giving anyone the death penalty, that it would always be life, as you've said on your form? A. Yes. Q. And that's the honest truth? A. Yes. Q. And you are against the death penalty; am I correct? A. Yes, sir, because it could be me one day. Q. One thing that I noticed when we were during voir dire, you said once I make up my mind I'm not willing to change it. Is that still the way you feel? A. Yes, sir. Q. And so are you telling us on your oath that you are against the death penalty and you would always vote for life and never vote for death? A. Excuse me now? Q. Are you telling us on your oath that you would always vote for life and never vote for death? There's nothing wrong with that. I'm just asking you if that's what you're saying. A. Yes, sir. That's what I said. Yes, sir. Q. And once you make up your mind, you're not willing to change it, and that's the way you feel; am I correct? A. That's the way I feel, yes, sir. Q. And no matter what anyone says to you, you're not going to change your mind. That's what it is. A. Yes, sir. Q. Life and never get death; am I right? A. Uh-huh. Therefore, it is without question that the trial judge did not abuse his discretion. This assignment of error is without merit.