Opinion ID: 1172674
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 34

Heading: Voir Dire of Ms. Kristin A. Henderson

Text: On voir dire, Ms. Kristin A. Henderson agreed she could follow the court's instructions and make a decision under the law. But she also voiced strong feelings against the death penalty. She said she felt the death penalty made brutes of us all and was barbaric. [210] The court asked if she would seriously be willing to consider both the alternatives of life without possibility of parole and the death penalty, given her strong feelings. She replied It would be difficult. I mean, I can see myself, I guess I could express it in body language perhaps. Pardon me. I would be sitting there like this. [211] The trial court did not abuse its discretion in excusing Ms. Henderson for cause because her oral responses and body language showed she would be substantially impaired in performing her duties as a juror.