Opinion ID: 1090851
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 27

Heading: Failure to Exclude Venirepersons Who Were in Favor of the Death Penalty

Text: ¶ 152. Russell argues that defense counsel failed to conduct adequate Reverse- Witherspoon voir dire. We assume that Russell means that jurors were not sufficiently questioned on whether they would automatically vote to sentence Russell to death in any case in which he was convicted of capital murder. After review of voir dire of the five panels of jurors, defense counsel asked this question of each panel except one. The State also mentioned to every panel except one (not the same panel as mentioned in the previous sentence) that the death penalty was not automatic in the event Russell was convicted of capital murder. ¶ 153. Russell also labels as bizarre defense counsel's attempt to question the panel on the specific facts of the case, such where defense counsel asked about the death penalty where Russell was a convicted felon, and where he was accused of killing a prison guard. We do not find defense counsel ineffective in this matter.