Court Opinion

ID: 9755761
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-28 20:49:44.579154+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:28:10.961194
License: Public Domain

TOM Glaze, Justice, concurring. Regarding Point I of the majority opinion, I concur and do so on the sole basis that the trial court permitted appellant Steven Bader an alternative line of questioning that was designed to educe information as to whether the venireperson had personal religious beliefs, convictions, or philosophical ideas that would impair his or her ability to serve impartially. Bader chose not to pursue such questioning. This court has held that the trial court’s “limited restriction” on voir dire does not constitute an abuse of discretion. See Ward v. State, 308 Ark. 415, 827 S.W.2d 110 (1992). Here, the trial court determined that specific information about denomination and church attendance was irrelevant for Bader to determine whether the potential jurors’ religious beliefs would prohibit them from following the law. Only when proposed questions are “plainly appropriate” will this court conclude that the trial court abused its discretion by restricting voir dire. Mr. Bader failed to show how his proposed questions were plainly appropriate in the circumstances; thus, it cannot be said that the trial court abused its discretion in restricting his voir dire and by allowing Bader to offer a reasonable alternative fine of questions.