Court Opinion

ID: 9739649
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:19:02.879143+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:13.328443
License: Public Domain

JUSTICE MILLER, dissenting: Unlike the majority, I believe that the trial judge in the present case adequately questioned the members of the defendant’s venire about their views regarding street gangs. At the outset of jury selection, the trial judge told the venire that evidence of gang membership would be introduced at trial. During the course of voir dire, the judge asked each prospective juror whether the person, a family member, or close friend had had any involvement with street gangs. Prospective jurors who answered affirmatively were questioned further about the matter and were asked whether that would affect their ability to be fair and impartial. No additional inquiry was necessary, and the trial judge did not abuse his discretion in refusing to ask the supplemental questions posed by defense counsel. As Justice Heiple points out in his dissent, juror attitudes toward street gangs do not fall within the subject areas — racial prejudice, and views on the death penalty — for which the United States Supreme Court has required a more particularized inquiry about possible bias. Moreover, this court has held that prospective jurors should not generally be questioned about the evidence to be introduced at trial. See People v. Buss, 187 Ill. 2d 144, 179-80 (1999); People v. Howard, 147 Ill. 2d 103, 135-36 (1991). I believe that the inquiry made by the trial judge in the case at bar was sufficient to ensure the selection of an impartial jury. For these reasons, I respectfully dissent.