State v. Dotson

234 So. 3d 34, 2017 WL 4681942 (2017)

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State v. Dotson

Louisiana Supreme Court
234 So. 3d 34, 2017 WL 4681942 (2017)

  • Written by Sharon Feldman, JD

Facts

Derrick Dotson (defendant) was indicted for aggravated rape. During voir dire, a prospective juror, K.C., indicated that her mother had been raped and murdered and that what happened to her mother might affect her ability to be a fair and impartial juror in Dotson’s case. K.C. was not asked any follow-up questions. Defense counsel challenged the juror for cause. The judge stated that the fact that K.C.’s mother had been raped and murdered was not cause. When defense counsel started to say that K.C. “said that would—,” the judge interrupted with, “No, she didn’t.” The court of appeal reversed Dotson’s conviction, holding that bias, prejudice, or the inability to decide the case based on the law could be reasonably implied from K.C.’s response, and therefore the trial court abused its discretion in denying Dotson’s challenge of K.C. for cause. The state (plaintiff) appealed.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Weimer, J.)

Dissent (Guidry, J.)

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