Voir Dire

We review a court's control of voir dire for abuse of discretion. Young v. Horton, 259 Mont. 34, 39, 855 P.2d 502, 505 (1993);  Priest v. Taylor, 227 Mont. 370, 382, 740 P.2d 648, 655 (1987). See also Eklund v. Wheatland Co., 2009 MT 231, ¶ 15, 351 Mont. 370, 212 P.3d 297 (abuse of discretion review of decision on challenge of juror for cause).

A court abuses its discretion if it make a ruling arbitrarily, unreasonably, or without employing conscientious judgment, resulting in substantial prejudice.  Cooper v. Hanson, 2010 MT 113, ¶ 28, 356 Mont. 309, 234 P.3d 59.