Opinion ID: 2057541
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Impartiality of a Death-Qualified Jury

Text: Perigo argues that the trial court erred by denying his motion to dismiss for denial of the sixth amendment right to an impartial jury. Perigo asserts that he was denied an impartial jury because the jury was qualified to consider a death penalty request and, thus, was more prone to convict. Perigo concedes that this argument has been resolved against his position, as recently as Hammers v. State (1987), Ind., 502 N.E.2d 1339. Perigo urges this Court to reconsider the issue of guilt proneness of death-qualified juries, citing Grigsby v. Mabry, 637 F.2d 525 (8th Cir.1980), on remand, 569 F. Supp. 1273 (E.D.Ark. 1983). The Grigsby opinion held that the defendant was entitled to a hearing on whether a death-qualified jury was more likely to convict than a jury selected without regard for juror views on the death penalty, to establish whether the defendant's constitutional right to an impartial jury was violated. Perigo, however, fails to cite the subsequent U.S. Supreme Court decision which reverses Grigsby and its reasoning. That reversal occurred in Lockhart v. McCree, 476 U.S. 162, 165, 106 S.Ct. 1758, 1761, 90 L.Ed.2d 137, 143 (1986). Lockhart is stare decisis against Perigo's position. We affirm the trial court. DeBRULER, GIVAN and PIVARNIK, JJ., concur.