boyde california argued november decided march evidence presented petitioner boyde penalty phase capital murder trial related background character trial instructed jury inter alia accordance instructions california jury instructions criminal ed caljic since amended time caljic listed factors jury shall consider determining whether impose sentence death life imprisonment last unadorned version factor read circumstance extenuates gravity crime even though legal excuse crime also instructed jury pursuant former caljic consider applicable aggravating mitigating circumstances directed shall impose sentence either death life imprisonment depending upon whether aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances vice versa jury imposed death sentence state affirmed rejecting boyde contention aforesaid versions caljic violated eighth fourteenth amendments held giving former caljic violate eighth amendment boyde claim mandatory nature instruction shall impose language prevented jury making individualized assessment death penalty appropriateness foreclosed blystone pennsylvania ante rejected challenge instruction similar mandatory language holding requirement individualized capital sentencing satisfied allowing jury consider relevant mitigating evidence boyde alleged instruction mandatory language interfered consideration evidence moreover constitutional basis suggestion jury must unfettered discretion decline impose death penalty even decides aggravating circumstances outweigh mitigating circumstances free structure shape consideration mitigating evidence achieve rational equitable administration death penalty pp giving former caljic violate eighth amendment precluding jury considering factors boyde background character mitigating evidence pp claim challenged instruction ambiguous therefore subject erroneous interpretation proper inquiry whether reasonable likelihood jury applied instruction way prevents consideration constitutionally relevant evidence although defendant need establish jury likely impermissibly inhibited instruction capital sentencing proceeding violate eighth amendment possibility inhibition pp reasonable likelihood jurors interpreted trial instructions preclude consideration mitigating evidence boyde background character unadorned factor standing alone boyde seems suggest limit jury consideration circumstance crime directed jury consider circumstance might excuse crime certainly includes background character moreover factor viewed together caljic factors allowing consideration mitigating evidence associated crime absence prior criminal activity felony convictions defendant youth seems even improbable jurors arrived interpretation precluded consideration evidence similarly reasonable jurors surely felt constrained factor instruction ignore boyde evidence four days testimony consuming pages transcript particularly since jury also instructed shall consider evidence received part trial pp merit boyde assertion arguments prosecutor immediately jury sentencing deliberations made likely jurors adopt impermissible interpretation factor instruction arguments generally carry less weight jury instructions subject objection correction must judged context made although prosecutor argued view evidence sufficiently mitigate boyde conduct never suggested background character evidence considered fact made statements explicitly assumed evidence relevant defense counsel stressed necessity broad reading factor pp rehnquist delivered opinion white scalia kennedy joined marshall filed dissenting opinion brennan joined parts ii iii iv blackmun stevens joined post dennis fischer appointment argued cause petitioner briefs john bishop frederick millar supervising deputy attorney general california argued cause respondent brief john van de kamp attorney general richard iglehart chief assistant attorney general harley mayfield senior assistant attorney general jay bloom supervising deputy attorney general briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed state arizona et al robert corbin attorney general arizona paul mcmurdie assistant attorney general jessica gifford funkhauser joined attorneys general respective follows donald siegelman alabama william webster missouri marc racicot montana lacy thornburg north carolina anthony celebrezze ohio ernest preate pennsylvania joseph meyer wyoming criminal justice legal foundation kent scheidegger charles hobson richard neuhoff eric multhaup filed brief california appellate project amicus curiae chief justice rehnquist delivered opinion case requires us decide whether two california jury instructions used penalty phase petitioner capital murder trial california capital cases modified respectively consistent requirements eighth amendment hold petitioner richard boyde found guilty jury robbery kidnaping murder dickie gibson night clerk store riverside california state introduced evidence trial january boyde entered store robbed clerk gunpoint cash register petitioner forced gibson waiting car driven petitioner nephew three men drove nearby orange grove boyde brought gibson grove ordered kneel hands behind head gibson begged life boyde shot back head forehead killing jury returned special verdict boyde personally committed homicide express malice aforethought premeditation deliberation penalty phase trial jury instructed inter alia accordance instructions california jury instructions criminal ed caljic since amended former lists factors jury shall consider take account guided determining whether impose sentence death life imprisonment eleventh factor reads circumstance extenuates gravity crime even though legal excuse crime concluding instruction pursuant caljic told jury consider applicable aggravating mitigating circumstances followed direction conclude aggravating circumstances outweigh mitigating circumstances shall impose sentence death however determine mitigating circumstances outweigh aggravating circumstances shall impose sentence confinement state prison life without possibility parole emphasis added hearing six days testimony concerning appropriate penalty jury returned verdict imposing sentence death trial denied boyde motion reduce sentence appeal california affirmed cal rejected petitioner contention jury instructions violated eighth amendment unadorned version factor allow jury consider mitigating evidence background character noted defense evidence penalty phase related boyde background character jury instructed consider evidence received part trial case prosecutor never suggested background character evidence considered therefore found inconceivable jury believed though permitted hear defendant background character evidence attorney lengthy argument concerning evidence consider evidence ibid regard shall impose language caljic agreed petitioner instruction permissibly require juror vote death penalty unless upon completion weighing process decides death appropriate penalty circumstances cal quoting people brown cal concluded however case jury adequately informed discretion determining whether death appropriate penalty cal three justices dissented affirmance death sentence dissenters argued mandatory feature instruction misled jury believing required impose death penalty aggravating factors outweighed mitigating factors even though individual juror might thought death appropriate penalty case granted certiorari affirm petitioner reiterates argument mandatory nature former caljic resulted sentencing proceeding violated eighth amendment instruction prevented jury making individualized assessment appropriateness death penalty see penry lynaugh specifically boyde contends shall impose language jury instruction precluded jury evaluating absolute weight aggravating circumstances determining whether justified death penalty asserts jury prevented deciding whether light aggravating mitigating evidence death appropriate penalty response state argues sentencing proceeding consistent eighth amendment reasonable juror interpret instruction allowing exercise discretion moral judgment appropriate penalty process weighing aggravating mitigating circumstances need discuss petitioner claim length conclude foreclosed decision earlier term blystone pennsylvania ante blystone rejected challenge instruction similar mandatory language holding requirement individualized sentencing capital cases satisfied allowing jury consider relevant mitigating evidence ante although blystone unlike boyde present mitigating evidence penalty phase capital trial legal principle expounded blystone clearly requires rejection boyde claim well mandatory language caljic alleged interfered consideration mitigating evidence petitioner suggests jury must freedom decline impose death penalty even jury decides aggravating circumstances outweigh mitigating circumstances constitutional requirement unfettered sentencing discretion jury free structure shape consideration mitigating evidence effort achieve rational equitable administration death penalty franklin lynaugh plurality opinion petitioner claim shall impose language caljic unconstitutionally prevents individualized assessment jury thus without merit second issue case whether petitioner capital sentencing proceedings violated eighth amendment trial instructed jury accordance former caljic including unadorned factor eighth amendment requires jury able consider give effect relevant mitigating evidence offered petitioner see lockett ohio eddings oklahoma penry supra assessing effect challenged jury instruction follow familiar rule stated cupp naughten determining effect instruction validity respondent conviction accept outset proposition single instruction jury may judged artificial isolation must viewed context overall charge boyd legal standard reviewing jury instructions claimed restrict impermissibly jury consideration relevant evidence less clear cases francis franklin said question reasonable juror understood charge meaning emphasis added see also sandstrom montana subsequent decisions sometimes purporting apply francis standard adhered strictly formulation california brown made reference reasonable juror done done two terms ago mills maryland alluded least three different inquiries evaluating challenge whether reasonable jurors drawn impermissible interpretation trial instructions emphasis added whether substantial possibility jury may rested verdict improper ground emphasis added reasonable jurors applied understood instructions white concurring emphasis added opinions area likewise produced variety tests standards see penry lynaugh reasonable juror well believed vehicle expressing view penry deserve sentenced death based upon mitigating evidence emphasis added franklin lynaugh supra stevens dissenting either special issues understood reasonable jurors gave jury opportunity consider petitioner mitigating evidence emphasis added see also andres reasonable men might derive meaning instructions given proper meaning probable emphasis added although may great differences among various phrasings important settle upon single formulation courts employ deciding kind federal question cases understandably provide single standard determining whether various claimed errors instructing jury require reversal conviction instances sure held case submitted jury alternative theories unconstitutionality theories requires conviction set aside see stromberg california leary see also bachellar maryland cases jury clearly instructed may convict defendant impermissible legal theory well proper theory theories although possible guilty verdict may proper basis equally likely verdict rested unconstitutional ground bachellar supra declined choose two likely possibilities case presented single jury instruction instruction concededly erroneous found case stromberg california claim instruction ambiguous therefore subject erroneous interpretation think proper inquiry case whether reasonable likelihood jury applied challenged instruction way prevents consideration constitutionally relevant evidence although defendant need establish jury likely impermissibly inhibited instruction capital sentencing proceeding inconsistent eighth amendment possibility inhibition reasonable likelihood standard think better accommodates concerns finality accuracy standard makes inquiry dependent single hypothetical reasonable juror might interpreted instruction course strong policy favor accurate determination appropriate sentence capital case equally strong policy retrials years first trial claimed error amounts speculation jurors sit solitary isolation booths parsing instructions subtle shades meaning way lawyers might differences among interpretation instructions may thrashed deliberative process commonsense understanding instructions light taken place trial likely prevail technical hairsplitting applying standard factor caljic standing alone think reasonable likelihood boyde jurors interpreted trial instructions prevent consideration mitigating evidence background character jury instructed according factor shall consider ny circumstance extenuates gravity crime even though legal excuse crime term extenuate defined mean lessen seriousness crime giving excuse app petitioner contends instruction permit jury give effect evidence presented psychologists family friends impoverished deprived childhood inadequacies school student strength character face obstacles explained last term penry lynaugh evidence defendant background character relevant belief long held society defendants commit criminal acts attributable disadvantaged background emotional mental problems may less culpable defendants excuse quoting california brown concurring emphasis added petitioner opportunity factor argue background character extenuated excused seriousness crime see reason believe reasonable jurors resist view long held society appropriate case evidence counsel imposition sentence less death instruction petitioner seems suggest limit jury consideration circumstance crime extenuates gravity crime jury directed consider circumstance might excuse crime certainly includes defendant background character even language instruction less clear think context proceedings led reasonable jurors believe evidence petitioner background character considered mitigation factors listed caljic allow consideration mitigating evidence associated crime absence prior criminal activity defendant absence prior felony convictions youth factor viewed together instructions seems even improbable jurors arrive interpretation precludes consideration evidence defense evidence presented penalty phase four days testimony consuming pages trial transcript related petitioner background character think unlikely reasonable jurors believe instructions transformed favorable testimony virtual charade california brown supra jury instructed shall consider evidence received part trial case app emphasis added view reasonable jurors surely felt constrained factor instruction ignore evidence presented petitioner sentencing phase presentation mitigating evidence alone course guarantee jury feel entitled consider evidence introduction without objection volumes mitigating evidence certainly relevant deciding jury understand instruction worst ambiguous case unlike instances found broad descriptions evidence considered insufficient cure statutes instructions clearly directed sentencer disregard evidence see hitchcock dugger clearer advisory jury instructed consider sentencing judge refused consider evidence nonstatutory mitigating circumstances lockett plurality opinion even ohio liberal construction death penalty statute three factors specified statute considered mitigation defendant sentence petitioner also asserts arguments prosecutor immediately jury sentencing deliberations reinforced impermissible interpretation factor made likely jurors arrive understanding arguments counsel generally carry less weight jury instructions former usually billed advance jury matters argument evidence see tr likely viewed statements advocates latter often recognized viewed definitive binding statements law see carter kentucky quercia starr arguments counsel misstate law subject objection correction greer miller say prosecutorial misrepresentations may never decisive effect jury judged force instruction arguments counsel like instructions must judged context made greer supra darden wainwright young see also donnelly dechristoforo lightly infer prosecutor intends ambiguous remark damaging meaning jury sitting lengthy exhortation draw meaning plethora less damaging interpretations find objectionable prosecutorial argument case petitioner maintains prosecutor encouraged intolerably narrow view factor argued jury mitigating evidence suggest petitioner crime less serious gravity crime less app othing heard lessens seriousness crime agree california without dissent point lthough prosecutor argued view evidence sufficiently mitigate boyde conduct never suggested background character evidence considered cal principal tack contend background character irrelevant urge jury despite petitioner past difficulties must accept responsibility actions see app indeed prosecutor explicitly assumed petitioner character evidence proper factor weighing process argued minimal relation aggravating circumstances defendant dance defendant may artistic talent defendant may fact good children course years even basis random luck going picked something done something approve consider weight goes even close tr emphasis added sum conclude reasonable likelihood jurors petitioner case understood challenged instructions preclude consideration relevant mitigating evidence offered petitioner thus hold giving jury instructions issue case former caljic violate eighth fourteenth amendments constitution judgment california affirmed footnotes determining penalty imposed defendant shall consider evidence received part trial case except may hereafter instructed shall consider take account guided following factors applicable circumstances crime defendant convicted present proceeding existence special circumstance found true presence absence criminal activity defendant involved use attempted use force violence expressed implied threat use force violence presence absence prior felony conviction whether offense committed defendant influence extreme mental emotional disturbance whether victim participant defendant homicidal conduct consented homicidal act whether offense committed circumstances defendant reasonably believed moral justification extenuation conduct whether defendant acted extreme duress substantial domination another person whether time offense capacity defendant appreciate criminality conduct conform conduct requirements law impaired result mental disease defect affects intoxication age defendant time crime whether defendant accomplice offense participation commission offense relatively minor circumstance extenuates gravity crime even though legal excuse crime people easley cal california stated order avoid potential misunderstanding meaning factor future trial courts inform jury may consider mitigating factor circumstance extenuates gravity crime even though legal excuse crime aspect defendant character record defendant proffers basis sentence less death quoting lockett ohio plurality opinion caljic since formally amended present factor instruction directs jury consider ny circumstance extenuates gravity crime even though legal excuse crime sympathetic aspect defendant character record defendant offers basis sentence less death whether related offense trial california jury instructions criminal ed people brown cal california acknowledged shall impose language instruction le ft room confusion jury role believed eighth fourteenth amendments required jury discretion decide whether relevant circumstances defendant deserves punishment death life without parole stated case mandatory language used must examined merits determine whether context sentencer may misled defendant prejudice scope sentencing discretion law noted proposed instruction since adopted almost verbatim see caljic ed conform opinion weighing aggravating mitigating circumstances mean mere mechanical weighing factors side imaginary scale arbitrary assignment weights free assign whatever moral sympathetic value deem appropriate various factors permitted consider weighing various circumstances simply determine relevant evidence penalty justified appropriate considering totality aggravating circumstances totality mitigating circumstances return judgment death must persuaded aggravating evidence circumstances substantial comparison mitigating circumstances warrants death instead life without parole cal contexts held defendant establish constitutional violation simply demonstrating alleged error might affected jury establish ineffective assistance counsel violates sixth amendment example defendant must show reasonable probability counsel unprofessional errors result proceeding different strickland washington deportation potential defense witnesses violate due process unless reasonable likelihood testimony affected judgment trier fact failure prosecution disclose allegedly exculpatory evidence defense violates due process reasonable probability evidence disclosed defense result proceeding different bagley receive new trial based newly discovered evidence defendant must demonstrate evidence likely lead different outcome see ins abudu dissent focuses terms gravity seriousness argues background character evidence effect seriousness crime jury instructed consider circumstance extenuates gravity crime even though legal excuse crime lessens seriousness crime giving excuse instruction directs jury consider circumstance might provide excuse think jurors naturally consider background character possible excuse oral argument though brief counsel petitioner also argued testimony boyde prize dance choreography prison showed lead useful life behind bars jury must able consider evidence mitigating circumstance decision skipper south carolina factor argued allow consideration skipper held capital defendant must permitted introduce mitigation evidence postcrime good prison behavior show pose danger prison community sentenced life imprisonment rather death testimony petitioner dance contest prison however introduced demonstrate model prisoner like skipper therefore unlikely present risk future dangerousness show artistic ability tr moreover although record clear point petitioner apparently dance prize prison term served prior gibson murder evidence thus pertain prison behavior crime sentenced death case skipper testimony dancing ability presented part petitioner overall strategy portray less culpable defendants due disadvantaged background character strengths face difficulties evidence good character therefore jury opportunity conclude factor petitioner dancing ability extenuated gravity crime showed boyde criminal conduct aberration otherwise good character find merit contention petitioner amicus arguments prosecutors california cases bear validity factor instruction case petitioner jury obviously influenced comments made california capital trials think fact prosecutors cases may pressed construction factor cause sentencing proceedings violate eighth amendment means reasonable jurors likely arrived interpretation prosecutors interested advocates arguments one prosecutors may made urging particular construction factor cases weighty factor deciding whether jury petitioner case felt precluded considering mitigating evidence justice marshall justice brennan joins justice blackmun justice stevens join parts ii iii iv dissenting bedrock principle capital punishment jurisprudence deciding whether impose sentence death sentencer must consider nature offense also character propensities offender woodson north carolina plurality opinion quoting pennsylvania ex rel sullivan ashe see also ante without question commitment individualized sentencing capital proceedings provides hope avoid administering death penalty discriminatorily wantonly freakishly gregg georgia white concurring judgment footnotes omitted insistence law sentencer know consider defendant human deciding whether impose ultimate sanction operates shield arbitrary execution enforces abiding judgment offender circumstances apart crime relevant appropriate punishment holds today richard boyde death sentence must affirmed even sentencing jury reasonably believed consider mitigating evidence regarding character background eschewing fundamental principle risk death penalty imposed spite factors may call less severe penalty unacceptable incompatible commands eighth fourteenth amendments lockett ohio adopts unduly stringent standard reviewing challenge sentencing instruction alleged constitutionally deficient majority approach capital sentence stand unless reasonable likelihood jury applied challenged instruction unconstitutionally ante majority reasonable likelihood standard met reasonable juror might interpreted challenged instruction unconstitutionally ibid standard inconsistent longstanding focus reviewing challenged instructions criminal contexts whether juror reasonably interpret instructions unconstitutional manner see sandstrom montana even striking majority first adopts standard review capital sentencing instruction long shared assessment death qualitatively different punishments see spaziano florida stevens concurring part dissenting part collecting cases never understood principle mean review death verdicts less solicitude criminal judgments adopting unprecedented standard majority places much risk error capital sentencing defendant majority conclusion reasonable likelihood jurors petitioner case understood challenged instructions preclude consideration relevant mitigating evidence ante belied plain meaning instructions context given instructions given boyde jury constitutionally inadequate standard including one adopted today dissent penalty phase trial richard boyde presented extensive mitigating evidence regarding background character presented testimony regarding impoverished background borderline intelligence inability get counseling efforts reform friends family testified notwithstanding criminal conduct boyde possesses redeeming qualities including ability work well children accordance california capital jury instructions trial instructed jury consider take account guided sentencing factors deciding whether return verdict death california jury instructions criminal ed caljic none factors explicitly informed jury consider evidence defendant background character see people easley cal boyde argues trial instructions constitutionally inadequate state responds instructions fully informed jury responsibility consider character background evidence factor provided jury consider ny circumstance extenuates gravity crime even though legal excuse crime boyde replies reasonable juror understood factor permitting consideration evidence related circumstances crime ii essential corollary standard criminal proceedings conviction capital otherwise stand jury verdict rested unconstitutional grounds see stromberg california williams north carolina cramer yates leary bachellar maryland see also chapman california efore federal constitutional error held harmless must able declare belief harmless beyond reasonable doubt society values presumption innocence demands resolution reasonable doubt stripping members liberty life decision leave undisturbed sentence death constitutionally infirm intolerable contrary majority intimation legal standard less clear cases see ante firmly adhered strict standard review challenged jury instructions sandstrom montana supra petitioner claimed trial instructions unconstitutionally shifted burden proof regarding intent time crime rejecting state claim jury might understood instruction unconstitutional manner declared whether defendant accorded constitutional rights depends upon way reasonable juror interpreted instruction emphasis added way knowing sandstrom convicted basis unconstitutional instruction held conviction must set aside likewise francis franklin applied sandstrom invalidate conviction reasonable juror understood instructions placed burden proof defendant emphasized question state declares meaning charge rather reasonable juror understood charge meaning citing sandstrom supra emphasis added sandstrom equally applicable claims challenging constitutionality capital sentencing instructions see california brown deciding whether mere sympathy instruction impermissibly excludes consideration mitigating evidence question reasonable juror understood charge meaning quoting francis supra recently mills maryland unequivocally confirmed reviewing sentencing instructions alleged preclude full consideration mitigating circumstances critical question whether petitioner interpretation sentencing process one reasonable jury drawn instructions given trial judge citing francis supra sandstrom brown supra emphasis added cases leave doubt appropriate standard review sure dissent francis disagreed acknowledged legal standard finds constitutional error reasonable juror understood charge particular manner rehnquist dissenting francis majority squarely unqualifiedly rejected dissent proposal constitutional error found must something reasonable possibility unconstitutional understanding challenged instruction francis stated settled law since stromberg california exists reasonable possibility jury relied unconstitutional understanding law reaching guilty verdict verdict must set aside ibid majority defends adoption reasonable likelihood standard ground better accommodates concerns finality accuracy standard makes inquiry dependent single hypothetical reasonable juror might interpreted instruction ante majority fails however explain new standard differs sandstrom standard suggest new standard unlike sandstrom requires speculation overturn capital sentence ibid difficult conceive reasonable juror interpret instruction unconstitutionally reasonable likelihood juror indeed majority explicitly allow possibility lower courts good reason doubt two standards different majority stringent version reasonable likelihood standard inconsistent cases majority appropriates standard reasonable likelihood language first appeared napue illinois reversed determination prosecutor failure correct perjured testimony affect verdict rejected claim bound state determination false testimony reasonable likelihood affected judgment jury emphasis added based review record overturned defendant conviction false testimony may effect outcome trial emphasis added language napue thereafter provided governing standard determining whether prosecutor knowing use perjured testimony mandates reversal sentence see bagley opinion blackmun justice blackmun explained bagley reasonable likelihood standard understood equivalent harmless error standard adopted chapman california rule conviction obtained knowing use perjured testimony must set aside reasonable likelihood false testimony affected jury verdict derives napue illinois napue antedated chapman california harmless beyond reasonable doubt standard established chapman noted little difference rule formulated napue terms whether reasonable possibility evidence complained might contributed conviction rule requiring beneficiary constitutional error prove beyond reasonable doubt error complained contribute verdict obtained therefore clear precedents indicate standard review applicable knowing use perjured testimony equivalent chapman standard citations internal quotation marks omitted extent new standard require defendant make greater showing sandstrom malleability standard encourages ad hoc review challenged instructions lower courts although standard majority adopts requires defendant challenging constitutionality instruction demonstrate reasonable possibility jury impermissibly inhibited instruction defendant need establish jury likely misled ante beyond suggestion error must possible less probable silent thus appellate courts familiar applying sandstrom standard ambiguous instructions required speculate whether instruction misunderstood creates reasonable likelihood fact misunderstood ante discern principled review alleged constitutional errors advanced standard regarded two standards identical prior cases see supra doubt contribute confusion lower courts fundamentally majority offers persuasive basis altering standard review regarding capital instructions alleged constitutionally infirm despite majority declaration contrary strong policy favor accurate determination appropriate sentence capital case equaled strong policy retrials based alleged deficiencies jury instructions ante long embraced commitment resolving doubts accuracy death verdict favor capital defendant see beck alabama risk unwarranted conviction tolerated case defendant life stake indeed characterize commitment accurate capital verdicts policy inappropriately dismissive heightened dedication fairness accuracy capital proceedings see bullington missouri woodson plurality opinion moreover finality concerns majority alludes far less compelling context majority suggests addressing certain challenges presumptively valid convictions identified specific justifications requiring heightened showing defendant thus demands showing greater possibility error reviewing defendant request new trial based newly discovered evidence ins abudu finality concerns somewhat weaker context claims strickland washington adoption high standard newly discovered evidence claims presuppose essential elements presumptively accurate fair proceeding present proceeding whose result challenged ibid likewise strickland held defendant must show reasonable probability counsel unprofessional errors result proceeding different ibid adopting demanding standard relied heavily special circumstances give rise claims particular emphasized government inability assure defendant effective counsel given case difficulties reviewing courts face discerning precise effects various errors conflict interest claims aside actual ineffectiveness claims alleging deficiency attorney performance subject general requirement defendant affirmatively prove prejudice government responsible hence able prevent attorney errors result reversal conviction sentence attorney errors come infinite variety likely utterly harmless particular case prejudicial classified according likelihood causing prejudice defined sufficient precision inform defense attorneys correctly conduct avoid representation art act omission unprofessional one case may sound even brilliant another contrast case require relitigate facts speculate possible effects alternative representation strategies boyde counsel might pursued trial quite simply issue whether trial properly instructed jury regarding capital sentencing role challenge goes core accuracy verdict asks whether defendant sentenced jury according law bollenbach conviction rest equivocal direction jury basic issue circumstance capital defendant interest exacting review alleged error unquestionably height presumptive validity regarding jury sentence state hand retains strong reliance interest sustaining capital verdict may obtained based misunderstanding law refusal apply standard less protective reasonable doubt alleged errors criminal trials part guarantees reliability jury determination also reflects belief appellate courts invad factfinding function criminal case law assigns solely jury carella california scalia concurring judgment internal quotation marks omitted citations omitted thus jury instructions unclear appellate may choose preferred construction transfer jury judge function giving law transfer appellate jury function measuring evidence appropriate legal yardsticks bollenbach supra reasoning less applicable california capital sentencing proceedings factfinding function assigned jury see hicks oklahoma defendant substantial legitimate expectation deprived liberty extent determined jury exercise statutory discretion violates due process affirm sentence simply frail conjecture jury might imposed sentence equally harsh properly instructed ignore reasonable possibility jurors misled range mitigating evidence consider undermine confidence jury actually decided boyde sentenced death accordance law overrides california fundamental decision exercise official power reluctance entrust plenary powers life liberty citizen one judge group judges duncan louisiana accordingly review challenged instructions case determine whether reasonable juror understood preclude consideration mitigating evidence regarding boyde character background iii standard though instructions inadequate ensure jury considered mitigating evidence majority conclusion factor understood reasonable jurors permit consideration mitigating factors unrelated crime accord plain meaning factor language circumstance extenuates gravity crime unambiguously refers circumstances related crime jurors relying ordinary language experience view seriousness crime dependent upon background character offender typical juror example describe particular murder less serious crime redeeming qualities murderer surely boyde murder gibson considered less grave majority suggests boyde demonstrated criminal conduct aberration otherwise good character ante rather offender background character unrelated crime considered sentencer society deeply felt view punishment reflect seriousness crime nature offender see penry lynaugh sentence reflect reasoned moral response defendant background character crime quoting california brown concurring majority resists natural understanding instruction focusing language penry describes belief long held society defendants commit criminal acts attributable disadvantaged background emotional mental problems may less culpable defendants excuse ante quoting penry supra emphasis added majority according majority statement reveals jurors understand background character evidence extenuating seriousness crime language prove majority prove language tells us clear several cases criminal defendant may considered less culpable thus less deserving severe punishment encountered unusual difficulties background suffers limited intellectual emotional resources possesses redeeming qualities see woodson plurality opinion language penry however suggest offender culpability lessened crime less serious rather answering central question case whether character background evidence regarded extenuat ing gravity crime opposed lessening offender moral culpability penry simply confirms offender background character apart crime must considered fixing punishment majority appears rest position assumption nonsensical given society long held belief character background evidence relevant sentencing determination conclude jury might thought consider evidence ante value giving effect mitigating evidence deeply held assumption holds surely jury misled trial instructions sad irony majority position reasoning fundamentally rooted legal principle constitutional values less scrutiny apply jury instructions run counter principle example presumption innocence bedrock axiomatic elementary principle whose enforcement lies foundation administration criminal law winship quoting coffin majority apparently resolve doubts adequacy instruction accused assumption jurors share long held belief presumption innocence majority position therefore encourage trial courts exacting instructions regarding legal minutiae leave barest form instructions regarding principles indispensable command respect confidence community applications criminal law argument inverts degree concern exhibit toward fundamental errors criminal proceedings unacceptable majority maintains adequacy instruction must judged context overall charge ante citations omitted nothing charge however overcame constitutional inadequacy factor failing instruct jury consider mitigating evidence majority suggests factor referring ny circumstance extenuates gravity crime emphasis added signaled character background evidence considered ther factors listed caljic allow consideration mitigating evidence associated crime ante majority thus believes jury unlikely read limitation factor shared factors prefatory language factor refers language factor need refer preceding factors well refer solely factors permit consideration mitigating evidence related offense understanding instruction must turn meaning circumstance extenuates gravity crime factor prefatory language phrase unambiguously refers circumstances related crime one reasonably conclude basis scope factors jury understood factor encompass mitigating evidence regarding boyde character background equally unpersuasive majority claim boyde presentation extensive background character evidence suggests jurors aware responsibility consider give effect evidence argument foreclosed penry stated enough simply allow defendant present mitigating evidence sentencer sentencer must also able consider give effect evidence imposing sentence thus mere presentation mitigating evidence absence mechanism giving effect evidence satisfy constitutional requirements majority attempts avoid conclusion characterizing case unlike instructions clearly directed sentencer disregard evidence ante implicit claim view constitution satisfied sentencing instructions explicitly preclude jury considering mitigating evidence words constitution provides affirmative guarantee jury informed proper sentencing role view unsupportable lockett faced statutory restrictions consideration mitigating evidence framed relevant question case whether instructions prevent ed sentence giving independent mitigating weight aspects defendant character understood principle affirmatively require sentencing alert jury constitutional role capital sentencing thus penry overturned death sentence jury informed consider mitigating evidence regarding penry mental retardation childhood abuse absence instructions informing jury consider give effect mitigating evidence dispositive emphasis added see also brown concurring jury instructions taken whole must clearly inform jury consider relevant mitigating evidence defendant background character emphasis added cf sumner shuman eighth amendment require schemes permit defendant present relevant mitigating evidence lockett requires sentencer listen evidence quoting eddings oklahoma fairly conclude mere presentation evidence satisfied boyde right constitutionally adequate sentencing determination finally examining context sentencing instructions majority finds objectionable prosecutorial argument reinforce impermissible interpretation factor although prosecutor never suggested background character evidence considered ante quoting cal need factor accomplished purpose prosecutor make point needed repeat language jury opening penalty phase argument jury prosecutor described background character evidence boyde offered asked rhetorically oes way relieve way suggest crime less serious gravity crime less think app majority suggests argument merely went weight jury assign boyde character background evidence ante argument directly tracks language factor specifying evidence may considered weight attached evidence argument suggest boyde background character evidence untrue insubstantial rather emphasizes evidence indeed way lessen seriousness gravity crime prosecutor closing statement likewise reinforced message evidence unrelated crime fall within scope factor look read says extenuation says lessen seriousness crime giving excuse nothing heard lessens seriousness crime app prosecutor designed argument bring home jury plain meaning sentencing instructions argument focuses language factor substance boyde mitigating evidence confirms prosecutor sought prevent jury considering evidence case potentially misleading prosecutorial argument discounted trial instructions satisfactorily informed jury proper sentencing role rather prosecutor exploited constitutional inadequacy factor sought ensure limited scope factor escape attention jury thus prosecutor comments trial charge failed communicate jury give effect mitigating character background evidence least reasonable juror understood charge prosecutor arguments limited accordingly neither words charge context given provide sufficient assurance jury considered mitigating evidence iv state brings criminal action deny defendant liberty life interests defendant magnitude historically without explicit constitutional requirement protected standards proof designed exclude nearly possible likelihood erroneous judgment santosky kramer quoting addington texas conclude confidence boyde jury understood consider mitigating factors evidence boyde difficult background limited personal resources majority regards confidence conclusion unnecessary affirmance boyde death sentence reflects growing unjustified hostility claims constitutional violation capital defendants tolerate possibility error capital proceedings leav people doubt winship whether defendants undeserving fate put death hasten return discriminatory wanton freakish administration death penalty found intolerable furman georgia adhering view death penalty circumstances cruel unusual punishment prohibited eighth fourteenth amendments gregg georgia marshall dissenting case vacate decision affirming boyde death sentence majority attributes uncertainty regarding proper standard decision andres quoting follows reasonable men might derive meaning instructions given proper meaning probable ante ellipsis emphasis added majority majority fails quote following sentence declared death cases doubts presented resolved favor accused read context passage suggests case instruction probably misinterpreted doubt must resolved favor accused suggest majority implies must probable instruction misinterpreted conviction overturned majority likewise mischaracterizes holding bachellar maryland majority suggests bachellar turned fact equally likely verdict rested unconstitutional ground ante quoting ellipsis added majority bachellar thus reflects refusal choose two likely possibilities ante majority misrepresentation bachellar holding becomes apparent ellipsis inserted majority removed far tell equally likely verdict resulted merely petitioners views vietnam offensive hearers street new york thus since petitioners convictions rested unconstitutional ground must set aside emphasis added majority perceives little difference longstanding approach challenged jury instructions reformulated reasonable likelihood standard suggests alarming insensitivity premises underlying criminal justice system reasonable doubt standard trial reflects awareness meaning serious consequences society attaches criminal conviction insistence reasonable certainty correctness capital sentencing instructions commensurate heightened concern accuracy capital proceedings thus majority assertion may great differences among various phrasing ante unfounded contrary reviewing criminal judgments described difference standard demands reasonable certainty one hand one tolerates significant doubt difference sets apart society values good name freedom every individual winship repudiation malleable standard francis franklin rejected proposed likely standard less applicable proposed alternative standard provides sound basis appellate review jury instructions malleability certainly generate inconsistent appellate results thereby compound confusion plagued area law perhaps importantly suggested approach provides incentive trial courts weed potentially infirm language jury instructions majority concedes see ante several years boyde trial california recognized potential misunderstanding generated instructions challenged case thereafter required lower courts supplement unadorned factor instruction language explicitly inform jury consider aspect defendant character record defendant proffers basis sentence less death people easley cal quoting lockett ohio thus unsurprising criminal treatise describing evolution offense classification criminal system reports serious offenses murder manslaughter rape arson came called felonies whereas presumably less serious offenses came called misdemeanors torcia wharton criminal law ed see also argersinger hamlin ven prosecutions offenses less serious felonies fair trial may require presence lawyer characterization felonies defined certain elements serious crimes regardless nature offender captures intuitive sense crime made less serious factors extrinsic circumstances surrounding offense similar reasons doctrine justification excuse criminal law focuses solely factors related commission crime duress necessity entrapment ignorance mistake see lafave scott substantive criminal law ch extent spoken issue supports view circumstances extenuate gravity crime analytically distinct evidence regarding offender character background commitment considering background character evidence capital punishment jurisprudence traceable part woodson following passage pennsylvania ex rel sullivan ashe emphasis added unishment like crimes may made severe committed determination sentences justice generally requires consideration particular acts crime committed taken account circumstances offense together character propensities offender indeed least seven ten factors preceding factor factors relate solely circumstances surrounding commission offense see ante quoting complete instruction reasons canvassed justice brennan dissent blystone pennsylvania ante also believe mandatory language california sentencing scheme deprives capital defendant independent judgment sentencer death appropriate punishment like instruction blystone boyde instruction required sentencer deliver verdict death aggravating circumstance circumstances matter insubstantial outweighed mitigating circumstances channeling sentencing discretion indeed essential aspect constitutional capital punishment scheme understood deprive sentencer choice reject ultimate sanction aggravating circumstances warrant