Opinion ID: 1959682
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Veniremember Green

Text: During voir dire, Green stated that she would hesitate voting for the death penalty. She explained that some of her fellow church members have a son who had been charged with murder, and she had witnessed the anguish they have been experiencing due to the possibility that he may be sentenced to death. When asked about this further, she admitted that she believed her ability to impose the death penalty would be substantially impaired. Later during questioning, the prosecutor asked the panel if there was anyone who, because of their views on the death penalty, could never consider imposing a sentence of death. The following conversation ensued: Green: I am justI'd have to say yes. [Prosecutor]: You'd say yes? Green: Because of when youYou just convinced me when you said, Could you stand up and pronounce the death penalty? And I couldn't do it. I know I couldn't. [Prosecutor]: Oh, could you sign the verdict form? Green: Right. I couldn't do that. [Prosecutor]: You could not act, if you were selected as the foreperson by the other jurors, you could not as the foreperson and sign that? Green: That's what made me realize I could never do it. [Prosecutor]: You couldn't sign a verdict of death? Green: No When Green was later questioned by defense counsel, she said that if the law told her she had to impose the death penalty, then she thought that she would be able to do it. However, she also admitted that it would be very challenging for her, she would be biased, and that she would have hesitation in voting for the death sentence. The State moved to strike Green for cause, and Johnson objected. In deciding to sustain the motion, the court, the prosecutor, and defense counsel had the following discussion: The Court: Well, I guess I have a question in my own mind as to what [defense counsel's] question was at the time, because And I recall [Green's] answer being, If I had to do it, I could do it. And I don't know if she was talking about signing the verdict form or [Defense Counsel]: I think she was. The Court:or rendering the death penalty. [Defense Counsel]: I think she was talking about rendering the death penalty, Your Honor. The Court: That's what I thought she was saying. You never have to. . . . . The Court: You never, ever have to under Missouri law. . . . . [Prosecutor]: She never came off the verdict form issue, even in the defense voir dire. And further, the State would certainly agree that the demeanor of all the jurors, as observed by the Court, should be taken into consideration. And she was clear in her statement that her ability to legitimately consider the death penalty would be substantially impaired. The Court: Well, I agree. I'm going to sustain that challenge. Throughout voir dire, Green made several statements indicating that she was not certain that she would be able to vote for the death penalty. She also stated that she would never be able to sign the verdict form to impose the death penalty. Although she said she would be able to impose a sentence of death if the law required it, the law does not require it. Based on Green's equivocation about her ability to impose the death penalty and the trial court's opportunity to assess her demeanor, the court did not abuse its discretion in sustaining the State's motion to strike Green for cause.