Opinion ID: 1742459
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: juror dismissed for cause

Text: Nooner first contends that the trial court erred in removing a juror for cause based on her attitude toward the death penalty. Citing Witherspoon v. Illinois, 391 U.S. 510, 88 S.Ct. 1770, 20 L.Ed.2d 776 (1968), Nooner urges that this juror was struck due to her conscientious scruples against the death penalty rather than her total opposition to it, which violated his right to due process. During the voir dire examination, juror Elizabeth Miller was questioned by counsel and by the circuit court. Her responses to the State's questions on voir dire were as follows: PROSECUTOR: Is the fact that the death penalty is sitting out here if you find him guilty going to cause you to make me have to do more than that? Have to prove beyond all shadow of a doubt or all imaginary doubt that he's guilty? JUROR: Yes. PROSECUTOR: It is? JUROR: Uh huh (Meaning yes). PROSECUTOR: So, in other words, you would hold us to that higher standard? JUROR: Yes. PROSECUTOR: In a case like this there are two possible sentences. If you, the jury, would render a guilty verdict, there are only two sentences. One is life imprisonment without parole. That's one option, and the other is the death penalty. Do you feel that if you have those two choices before you, that you would be inclined to lean toward life imprisonment? JUROR: Yes. PROSECUTOR: If you had those choices before you, would you automatically feel that the life imprisonment without parole would be your choice? JUROR: Yes, I do. PROSECUTOR: So, in other words, regardless of the evidence that we presented to you that might suggest that the death penalty is appropriate, it's your belief that you wouldIf you were a juror, you would vote for life imprisonment without parole? JUROR: Yes, uh-huh (Meaning yes). Ms. Miller's responses to the defense counsel's questions were as follows: DEFENSE COUNSEL: If you determine that they're guilty, then you consider punishment. The Court will instruct you that in order to consider the death penalty, the State has to prove certain aggravating circumstances and prove that those aggravating circumstances outweigh any mitigating circumstances that may exist beyond a reasonable doubt. JUROR: I understand. DEFENSE COUNSEL: If the Judge instructed you that that was the law, and those were the instructions you were supposed to follow, could you follow those instructions? JUROR: I think so. . . . . DEFENSE COUNSEL: And you can follow his instructions and consider everything that you should consider in making your determination which punishment is possible or which punishment is appropriate? JUROR: Yes. . . . . DEFENSE COUNSEL: If the Judge instructs you that the State has the burden of proving each and every element of the charges against Terrick beyond a reasonable doubt, and he further instructs you that a reasonable doubt isn't any possible or imaginary doubt. It's a doubt that would cause a reasonable person to pause or hesitate in one of the grave transactions of life. And, further, that a juror is convinced beyond a reasonable doubt when they have an abiding conviction of the truth of the matter. Could you follow that instruction? JUROR: I think so. On requestioning by the State, the juror answered: PROSECUTOR: You really don't want to have to ever be the person who would have to vote on whether or not you could sentence somebody to death. Is that correct? JUROR: That's right. PROSECUTOR: Would it be really difficult for you? Do you think you could actually sign your name to a verdict form? JUROR: No, I don't think so. Upon questioning by the circuit court, the juror stated: CIRCUIT COURT: Can you conceive of any circumstances where you had a choice between life without parole and the death penalty where you would choose the death penalty? JUROR: I don't know. The circuit court then issued its ruling: After viewing this juror, she said several things that were a bit inconsistent. Taking an overall view of all of her questions, I'm convinced that if this lady is part of this jury, that the State would be foreclosed from a verdict before we start. I believe this lady is irrevocably locked into voting for life without parole, and because of that would not follow the evidence, and so, I'm going to grant the State's motion for cause as to this juror. The decision to excuse a juror for cause rests within the sound discretion of the trial court and will not be reversed absent an abuse of discretion. Biggers v. State, 317 Ark. 414, 878 S.W.2d 717 (1994); Cox v. State, 313 Ark. 184, 853 S.W.2d 266 (1993). We have said that the standard for determining if a prospective juror should be excused for cause is no longer whether that person makes it unmistakably clear that he or she would automatically vote against the death penalty. Pickens v. State, 301 Ark. 244, 250, 783 S.W.2d 341, cert. denied 497 U.S. 1011, 110 S.Ct. 3257, 111 L.Ed.2d 766, cert. denied 500 U.S. 929, 111 S.Ct. 2044, 114 L.Ed.2d 128 (1990). The standard now is whether a juror's views about the death penalty would prevent, or substantially impair, the performance of the juror's duties in accordance with the instructions and the oath taken. Pickens v. State, supra . Hence, the circuit court must decide if the juror's views would prevent or substantially impair performance of his or her duty as a juror, and we give great deference to the circuit court that sees and hears the potential jurors. Wainwright v. State, 307 Ark. 569, 823 S.W.2d 449 (1992). Here, it is true that juror Miller testified that she would follow the court's instructions. However, she also stated that she would have to be totally convinced of the defendant's guilt before she could consider the death penalty and that regardless of the State's evidence she would vote for life imprisonment. She further responded that she could not actually sign her name to a verdict form in which the death penalty was imposed. A reasonable conclusion from these answers is that her views on the death penalty would in fact have either impaired or prevented the performance of her duties as a juror. We bestow great deference on the circuit court in such matters, and we find no basis for a decision that the court abused its discretion.