State of Louisiana v. Derrick A. Dotson

Summary

The court reversed the court of appeal’s determination that the trial judge abused his discretion by denying a challenge for cause to a prospective juror whose mother had been raped and murdered. Considering the prospective juror’s equivocal statement that the experience “might” affect her impartiality, the absence of follow-up questioning, and the remainder of the voir dire, the court held that the trial judge’s ruling was entitled to deference and was not arbitrary or unreasonable. The matter was remanded to the court of appeal to decide the remaining issue raised by the defendant.