Opinion ID: 2161601
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Failure to Strike for Cause Jurors Who Indicated Potential Inability to be Impartial

Text: Grandison also argues that the trial judge erred in refusing to strike for cause six prospective jurors whose ability to be impartial was drawn into serious question because of their aversion to drugs and drug trafficking. A defendant is, of course, entitled to a fair and impartial jury. What Grandison overlooks, however, is the fact that all six of the prospective jurors he claims should have been struck were rehabilitated through additional questioning. For example, Mrs. Creasy, who admitted she had heard the case was a drug-related case also stated several times she thought she could base her decision on the evidence she heard in the courtroom and the law involved. Mrs. Dorsey disliked drugs; she was asked the following question by Grandison's standby counsel: MR. CRAWFORD: Could I ask you one more question? I am sorry. Getting back to this drug business, if something came out in trial to indicate that there were drugs involved, and although this man is not on trial for any drug involvement, if it should develop during the course of the trial that there may have been some drug involvement, although he is not on trial for that, would that have any  make any difference to you as to how you arrived at a verdict regarding what he is on trial for? MRS. DORSEY: No, if it wasn't pertinent to the case. Like I said, I just don't like drugs. I had an experience in drugs with my son, and he is well, thank God. I just don't like drugs. Thus it is clear that Mrs. Dorsey was stating, in effect, that the drug factor would make no difference in how she arrived at a verdict if the case did not involve drug charges. Mrs. Hankins also stated that she would try her very best to make a decision based on the evidence and the law. Mrs. Somers stated she would not make a decision on the fact of drugs alone and that her decision would be based on the evidence and the law. Finally, both Mr. Brimer and Mr. Serman testified that while drugs might influence them, they would follow the court's instructions to base their decisions on the evidence and the law. Thus while unremarkably all expressed an aversion to drugs, all stated they would make a decision based on the evidence and the law. In our view Grandison was entitled to no more.