Jacobs v. State

Keasler, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Keller, P.J., and Hervey, Yeary, and Walker, JJ., joined.

Joshua Jacobs was prohibited from asking potential jurors whether, if they knew that he had previously been convicted of a "sexual offense," they could remain impartial in the instant sexual-assault case. 1 The trial judge wanted Jacobs to use the phrase "felony offense," but agreed, on Jacobs's request, to let him refer to prior *207 "assaultive offenses" instead. 2 The court of appeals held that, in so limiting Jacobs, the trial judge offended his constitutional rights. 3 We…