Smith v. District Court in & for the Fourth Judicial District of the State of Colorado

In this original proceeding, pursuant to C.A.R. 21,1 we directed the El Paso County District Court to show cause why it should not he prohibited from enforcing its order forbidding counsel to ask potential jurors if they are officers, directors, or policyholders of the defendants’ insurance carrier. In accordance with our precedent, we hold that this so-called “insurance question” is admissible during voir dire because it tends to reveal possible interest or bias of potential jurors. We therefore make the rule to show cause absolute.

I

On February 27, 1993, Christy Smith was seriously injured…