Opinion ID: 1942312
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Individual Voir Dire Need for Procedural Change

Text: The State's ability to articulate a race-neutral explanation for exercising its peremptory challenge, based upon the likelihood of seating its definition of an ideal juror, is unique to this case because the precise order of juror selection had been pre-disclosed to the attorneys. The State's race-neutral explanation in this case has withstood careful judicial scrutiny by the Superior Court and this Court. In the future, however, it is important to eliminate the potential for compromising the random selection of jurors. 10 Del.C. § 4501. That potential exists when the precise order for individual voir dire is made known to the attorneys in advance of a potential juror's actual appearance. The usual jury selection procedure involves collective voir dire only and does not pre-disclose the exact order in which all members of the venire will be called to the jury box. Super.Ct.Crim.R. 24(b)(3). Accordingly, we direct the Superior Court to promulgate a rule which will accommodate the need to conveniently schedule the jurors' appearance for individual voir dire and at the same time preserve the integrity of the random jury selection process by keeping the jurors' order of appearance confidential. 10 Del.C. § 4507. In the interim, the following procedures for scheduling the individual voir dire of jurors should be used: (1) When the names of the petit jurors are written on distinct ballots, those ballots should also be numbered. (2) The Prothonotary should prepare a master list of the jurors' names and corresponding ballot numbers, which information shall remain confidential until jury selection has been completed. (3) If the presiding judge decides to schedule groups of jurors to appear at designated times, as in the case sub judice, the ballots should be drawn in open court, but only the number on the ballot should be announced. (4) After the entire venire has been drawn and reporting groups have been established, the Prothonotary should notify each juror, confidentially, of his or her time to appear for individual voir dire. (5) If there is a need to have individual voir dire for more than one trial during a venire panel's term of service, different numbers should be assigned to each juror for each trial.