Opinion ID: 900573
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 16

Heading: Traphagen

Text: [¶ 40.] Even after viewing the pictures of the victim, and after an incomplete description of the bifurcated guilt/penalty process, panelist Traphagen still did not express a strong propensity to automatically invoke the death penalty. Consistent with the answers on her questionnaire, Traphagen began her discussion of the death penalty with the general statement that although she thought it should be mandatory in cases involving the murder of children, even in those cases there are extenuating circumstances that should be considered. After the most cursory explanation of the bifurcated process by the defense, Traphagen further opined that if someone was not in their mind when they committed a crime, then perhaps the death penalty would not be warranted. [¶ 41.] After a lengthy questioning by the defense, and apparently in response to the impression that she was not being understood, Traphagen stated: Perhaps it would help  can I say something? My opinion, and I've thought about it a lot ... my opinion on the death penalty, because I've never been close to a case where there's been a crime, I've never been close to anything personally where there's been a violent crime against someone, so everything that I have to draw on is what I would feel if it were committed against me or my family. And that's where I find my opinion. If something were against me, if something were against my family, my child, that's how I would feel. Since it would not particularly be, in this case isn't anybody that I've even heard of, anybody I've ever known, you'd have to sit and listen to everything either way because it didn't happen to me.... If something were to happen to my child what I would want to happen to that person. And I know that's not right or wrong but that's how I feel and why I feel that way. So, yes, I would have to sit and listen to every side. I would have to sit and listen to and be open-minded and say, you know, if you say that life imprisonment is the best for this man, if he's been convicted of a crime, if all the evidence indicates that he's guilty and then you say prosecution says the death penalty is in order, you have to listen to the other side and for any particular reason, you know, and you have to listen to both sides and go on that evidence which you should go. Because, like I say, it's not  it's not personal against me so I can't say that yes, they deserve to die, when I've based my opinion and my feelings on like anything if it happened to me. So you would have to listen to both sides and be open to both sides because it's not personally against me. .... But you would have to listen to both arguments, you know, and if it goes into sentencing stage you at that point and to my knowledge at this point you have to listen to both sides and take everything in account and find if that's the best, the best punishment. [¶ 42.] Despite Moeller's assertions to the contrary, this spontaneous, insightful oration shows that Traphagen did not harbor a strong propensity to automatically invoke the death penalty. [¶ 43.] In sum, we do not find an indication that any of the five challenged jurors possessed strong inclination in favor of the death penalty. Moeller is correct when he states that [a] search for qualified jurors should not be a ping pong game. This ping pong approach to qualifying potential jurors could be avoided through the use of complete, accurate information about the entire trial process. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Moeller's challenges for cause for these five venirepersons, and there was no violation of his constitutional right to an impartial jury. [¶ 44.] Similarly, we find no statutory violation [7] in denying Moeller's challenge for cause to the other jurors. He contends that panelist Scott indicated she would require the defendant to carry the burden of proof. This is contradicted by a full review of the entire voir dire which, like those jurors previously discussed, shows that Scott's response was based on an incomplete understanding of the penalty phase and which side had the burden of proof. After an explanation by State, and upon further questioning by the trial court, Scott indicated that she would follow the court's instruction and would not impose an obligation upon the defendant to present evidence in mitigation. [¶ 45.] Moos was another panelist who gave an answer based on incomplete information. In response to a question by the defense, she indicated that she would not consider a life sentence once the defendant had been found guilty of aggravated murder. However, the record reveals that the defense had not adequately explained the sentencing phase of the trial before asking the question. Once State explained the process to her, and the trial court followed up with further questioning to clarify her position, Moos stated that she would be able to consider all factors before deciding on a sentence of death or life in prison. When asked to explain her seemingly contradictory answers, Moos stated that her answers on the questionnaire and those given to the defense no longer correctly reflected her views, because she had been enlightened on how the system works. [¶ 46.] Finally, as noted by the trial court, panelist Hiland was obviously a very gruff individual as reflected in his responses to the defense's voir dire questions. However, there was nothing in the record that indicated he possessed any animosity toward the defendant. In fact, he stated several times that he would keep an open mind and his decision would be based upon the evidence. [¶ 47.] A determination of a juror's qualifications must be based upon the whole voir dire examination, not upon single isolated responses. Darby, 1996 SD 127, ¶ 34, 556 N.W.2d at 320. A review of the complete voir dire transcript shows that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in denying Moeller's challenges for cause, because it has not been shown there were any constitutional or statutory violations of his right to an impartial jury. [8]