Opinion ID: 2052708
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Jury Selection Process in Dawson's 1988 Trial And 1993 Penalty Hearing

Text: Dawson raises four separate claims concerning the circumstances of the jury selection process in his 1988 trial and his 1993 penalty hearing. Specifically, Dawson contends that his right to a fair trial was violated in connection with his 1988 trial when the court excluded four prospective jurors for cause, based on their opposition to the death penalty. Dawson argues that the trial court's action made the jury more prone to convict, and thereby violated his right to an impartial jury. He further asserts that striking these jurors violated his right to a jury that fairly represents a cross-section of the community. In addition, he argues that the striking for cause of potential jurors for his 1993 penalty hearing had the same effect. The Superior Court concluded that the claims related to the impartiality of the jury were barred by Rule 61(i)(3) because they were not raised on direct appeal. The court concluded that Dawson's claims that the jury did not fairly represent a cross-section of the community were decided by this Court in Dawson's direct appeal, and are, therefore, barred by Rule 61(i)(4). We agree and hold that the Superior Court neither erred as a matter of law nor abused its discretion. Dawson's arguments related to the impartiality of his 1988 and 1993 juries were not raised in his direct appeals in Dawson I and Dawson II. Accordingly, these claims are barred by Rule 61(i)(3) unless Dawson can show cause for failure to raise the claims and prejudice flowing from that failure. Dawson makes no effort, however, to establish cause for his failure to assert these claims on direct appeal. Moreover, Dawson cannot demonstrate actual prejudice flowing from this failure: It is well settled that a prospective juror may be excluded from serving in a capital case if his or her views on the death penalty would substantially impair the juror's ability to comply with the instructions of the court or the dictates of the juror's oath. Lovett v. State, Del.Supr., 516 A.2d 455, 475-76 (1986), cert. denied sub nom., 481 U.S. 1018, 107 S.Ct. 1898, 95 L.Ed.2d 504 (1987). Had the claim been raised on direct appeal, it would have been summarily rejected. Thus, failure to raise this claim on direct appeal could not have prejudiced the defense because the claim is devoid of merit. The Superior Court did not err in holding these claims to be procedurally barred. Dawson's arguments relating to his right to a jury that fairly represents a cross-section of the community are without merit. The Superior Court held that these claims were already raised and rejected on direct appeal, and are barred by Rule 61(i)(4). This holding is unassailable. See Dawson II, 637 A.2d at 61. Irrespective of the Court's decision in Dawson II, however, such claims have been decisively determined to be without merit. See, e.g., Lovett, 516 A.2d at 475. We hold that the Superior Court neither erred nor abused its discretion.