State v. Wilson, WD

Citation998 S.W.2d 202
Decision Date07 September 1999
Docket NumberNo. WD,WD
PartiesSTATE of Missouri, Respondent, v. William E. WILSON, Appellant. 56327.
CourtCourt of Appeal of Missouri (US)

Richard E. McFadin, Gallatin, for appellant.

John Munson Morris III, Jefferson City, for respondent.

Before Presiding Judge, HAROLD L. LOWENSTEIN, Judge FOREST W. HANNA, and Judge LAURA DENVIR STITH.

LAURA DENVIR STITH, Judge.

Defendant, William E. Wilson, was convicted in the Circuit Court of Livingston County, of a class D felony under § 577.010 RSMo 1994 for driving while intoxicated and was sentenced to five years imprisonment. Mr. Wilson raises two points on appeal, the first of which is dispositive. He asserts that two of the jurors serving on the jury, Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Anderson, equivocated on voir dire as to whether they would be fair and impartial to a defendant who did not testify at trial, and that the trial court therefore erred in denying his challenge of these two venirepersons for cause. The State agrees that the trial court committed reversible error in refusing to strike Mr. Anderson for cause, and concurs in defendant's request that we remand for a new trial. Because we agree that the trial court erred in denying defendant's challenge for cause as to Mr. Anderson, we reverse and remand for a new trial.

I. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In the early morning hours of December 8, 1996, Officer Dean Davis stopped Mr. Wilson's vehicle for travelling 52 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone. As he approached the car, Officer Davis noticed a strong odor of alcohol. Mr. Wilson admitted to having had a "few drinks". The officer checked Mr. Wilson's driving record and learned that his license had been revoked. He also gave Mr. Wilson a horizontal gaze nystagmus test and a portable breathalyzer test. Based on these test results, and on the officer's 14 years of experience, the smell of alcohol, Mr. Wilson's admission he had been drinking, and Mr. Wilson's use of abusive language, Officer Dean believed Mr. Wilson to be intoxicated and impaired and arrested him for driving while intoxicated. Mr. Wilson was subsequently charged with that crime.

At trial, Mr. McFadin, counsel for defendant, asked during voir dire whether any venireperson would infer guilt or be affected if Mr. Wilson chose not to take the stand in his own defense. Eleven of the potential jurors, including Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Anderson, indicated that they would be affected by defendant's failure to testify, most saying that they wanted to hear evidence from both sides.

The court gave the prosecutor permission to attempt to rehabilitate those prospective jurors who indicated they would be affected if Mr. Wilson did not testify. The prosecutor asked those jurors whether they would be able to follow the court's instructions despite their concern about the defendant's failure to testify, stating:

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. McFadin asked you the question about the Defendant not testifying if he so elected, and a number of you indicated that it might have an effect on how you view the case. The Court will instruct you that if the Defendant does not take the stand, you are to draw no adverse inference from that whatsoever. If the Court so instructs you, and I'm going to go through each of you if my notes indicated that you would have a problem.

The question is, if the Court so instructs you, will you follow the Court's instruction and not draw an adverse inference from the Defendant's refusal to testify?

All 11 persons who had said they would be affected indicated they would follow the court's instructions not to draw an "adverse inference", although some said this would be difficult. Both Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Anderson answered, "Yes, sir", when asked if they would follow such an instruction.

In response to this attempt by the State to rehabilitate these venirepersons, defense counsel posed the following general question:

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, many of you raised your hand and many of you said that it was difficult for you to render a fair and just verdict for one reason or another. Some for the Defendant not testifying. Some because of drinking alcoholic beverages, etc. And is there anybody that has changed their mind that made the statement that they could not render and fair and just verdict based upon the evidence because of those reasons? Anybody had a change of heart, raise your hands. I take it by your expression of silence that you're sticking with the answers that you gave me. Thank you....

(emphasis added). Defense counsel then asked a final, related question:

I think I've already asked the ladies and gentlemen of the jury and I think that even though you said that you would follow the instructions, I believe some of you said it would be difficult if he [defendant] did not testify, that it would affect you. Anybody change their mind on that? Thank you.

(emphasis added). So far as the record demonstrates, neither Mr. Anderson, Mr. Wheeler, nor any of the other 11 venire persons who had indicated a concern about a defendant's failure to testify, indicated they had changed their mind about these concerns.

Defense counsel challenged for cause all 11 venire persons who expressed an inability to be fair and impartial if the defendant did not testify. The court overruled each challenge. In response to the Court's ruling, defense counsel requested that voir dire be reopened to address what could at best be called equivocation, on this issue by the jurors. The Court denied the request. Of the 11 venirpersons who indicated that a failure to testify would affect them, only Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Anderson sat on the jury. The jury convicted Mr. Wilson. He now appeals alleging the trial court committed reversible error in refusing to strike Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Anderson.

II. FAILURE TO STRIKE UNQUALIFIED JUROR

As stated in State v. Walker, 795 S.W.2d 522 (Mo.App. W.D.1990):

An individual accused of a crime is entitled to a full panel of qualified jurors before he is required to expend his peremptory challenges. State v. Schwer, 757 S.W.2d 258, 262 (Mo.App.1988); State v. Bebermeyer, 743 S.W.2d 516, 519 (Mo.App.1987). For a trial court to deny a legitimate challenge for cause constitutes an abuse of discretion and reversible error. Schwer, supra, at 262.

Id. at 525. A legitimate challenge is made where it clearly appears from the evidence that the venireperson is prejudiced and, as a result, cannot be fair and impartial. See generally State v. Walton, 796 S.W.2d 374, 377 (Mo. banc 1990). A venireperson who cannot be fair and impartial is not qualified to serve on the jury. Id.

A trial judge has broad discretion in determining which venirepersons are qualified to serve, for the trial judge is in the best position to observe the demeanor and tone of the venirpersons, whereas the appellate court can consider only the cold record in determining qualifications. State v. Moore, 927...

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7 cases
  • State v. Savage
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Missouri (US)
    • 29 Septiembre 2020
    ...appears from the evidence that the venireperson is prejudiced and, as a result, cannot be fair and impartial." State v. Wilson , 998 S.W.2d 202, 205 (Mo. App. W.D. 1999) ; accord State v. Kalter , 442 S.W.3d 124, 131 (Mo. App. S.D. 2014) ("Trial judges should sustain challenges to jurors wh......
  • State v. Clark, WD 68543.
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Missouri (US)
    • 16 Diciembre 2008
    ...that the venireperson is prejudiced, cannot be fair and impartial, and, thus, is not qualified to serve on the jury. State v. Wilson, 998 S.W.2d 202, 205 (Mo.App. W.D.1999); see also State v. Walton, 796 S.W.2d 374, 377 (Mo. banc 1990). In contrast, "`the justification for a peremptory stri......
  • Stste v. Lawrence, SD23517
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Missouri (US)
    • 17 Enero 2002
    ...venire persons and was not afforded "a full panel of qualified jurors." In support of his contention, Defendant cites to State v. Wilson, 998 S.W.2d 202, (Mo.App. 1999), which stands for the proposition that "[a]n individual accused of a crime is entitled to a full panel of qualified jurors......
  • State v. Lawrence
    • United States
    • Court of Appeal of Missouri (US)
    • 17 Enero 2002
    ...venire persons and was not afforded "a full panel of qualified jurors." In support of his contention, Defendant cites to State v. Wilson, 998 S.W.2d 202, (Mo.App.1999), which stands for the proposition that "[a]n individual accused of a crime is entitled to a full panel of qualified jurors ......
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