dobbert florida argued march decided june florida death penalty statute upheld proffitt florida requires upon conviction capital felon separate sentencing hearing trial judge jury certain evidence relating aggravating mitigating circumstances must admitted jury based circumstances renders advisory decision binding judge must also weigh circumstances imposes death sentence must set forth written findings fact judgment conviction death sentence thereafter subject automatic priority review florida petitioner convicted florida inter alia murder one children pursuant statute jury required sentencing hearing recommended life sentence judge overruled recommendation sentenced petitioner death florida affirmed petitioner makes three claims based constitutional prohibition ex post facto laws change role judge jury imposing death sentence statute effect time murder recommendation mercy jury reviewable judge constituted ex post facto violation change deprived substantial right jury determine without review trial judge whether death penalty imposed death penalty effect florida time murder earlier statute effect time later held invalid florida furman georgia current statute one sentenced requires anyone sentenced life imprisonment serve least years becoming eligible parole whereas prior statute contained limitation petitioner also makes related claim since furman decision invalidating prior death penalty statute florida resentenced life imprisonment prisoners death sentences pursuant old statute since crimes committed prior furman imposition death sentence upon pursuant new statute denied equal protection laws claims pretrial publicity concerning crimes deprived right fair trial held changes death penalty statute time murder time trial procedural whole ameliorative hence ex post facto violation pp new statute simply altered methods employed determining whether death penalty imposed change quantum punishment attached crime pp new statute provides capital defendants rather less judicial protection old statute death automatic absent jury recommendation mercy old statute jury recommendation life may overridden trial judge exacting standards unlike old statute jury recommendation death binding defendants second chance life trial judge third necessary florida pp existence earlier statute time murder served operative fact warn petitioner penalty florida seek impose convicted murder sufficient compliance ex post facto provision constitution notwithstanding subsequent invalidation statute pp petitioner sentenced death may complain burdens attached life sentence new statute may attached old pp imposition death sentence upon petitioner pursuant new statute deny equal protection laws neither tried sentenced prior furman similarly situated whose death sentences commuted irrational florida relegate class prisoners whose acts properly punished new statute effect time trial sentence absent anything record particular respect voir dire examination jurors require finding constitutional unfairness method jury selection character jurors actually selected petitioner failed show totality circumstances extensive pretrial news media coverage case denied fair trial pp rehnquist delivered opinion burger stewart white blackmun powell joined burger filed concurring opinion post brennan marshall filed dissenting statement post stevens filed dissenting opinion brennan marshall joined post louis frost argued cause filed brief petitioner charles musgrove assistant attorney general florida argued cause respondent briefs robert shevin attorney general howard eisenberg filed brief national legal aid defender assn amicus curiae urging reversal justice rehnquist delivered opinion petitioner convicted murder first degree murder second degree child abuse child torture victims children florida death penalty statute effect sentenced trial judge death murder florida affirmed granted certiorari consider whether changes florida death penalty statutes subjected trial ex post facto law denied equal protection laws whether significant amount pretrial publicity concerning crime deprived petitioner right fair trial conclude petitioner shown deprivation federal constitutional right affirm judgment florida petitioner convicted murder daughter kelly ann aged murder son ryder scott aged also found guilty torturing son ernest john iii aged abusing daughter honore elizabeth aged brutality heinousness crimes relevant petitioner motion change venue due pretrial publicity trial judge imposition sentence death trial judge factual findings sentencing phase trial summarized petitioner treatment offspring follows evidence testimony showed premeditated continuous torture brutality sadism unspeakable horrors committed children period time app period time latter portion kelly ann short tortu ous life defendant things one many occasions beat head swollen burned hands poked fingers eyes beat abdomen swollen like pregnant knocked wall fell kicked lower part body held water bath tub toilet kicked table cut head defendant sewed wound needle thread scarred head body beating belt board causing marks cheek across neck back injuries worsened without treatment body juices came one occasion beat continuously minutes many occasions kicked stomach shoes night died kicked number times kept school many scars cuts bruises body seen others defendant made effort get professional medical care attention child fact actively prevented discovering condition choked night died stopped breathing placed body plastic garbage bag buried unmarked unknown grave prior trial petitioner applied florida constitutional stay trial alleging application ex post facto law violation equal protection application denied petitioner also moved lower change venue alleging charged inherently odious acts extensive publicity regarding fight extradition arrest well search bodies jacksonville police department rendered impossible fair impartial trial duval county trial judge took motion advisement issued order enjoining anyone connected trial releasing statement case news media motion later denied trial jury found petitioner guilty inter alia murder first degree pursuant florida death penalty statute effect sentencing hearing held judge jury jury majority found sufficient mitigating circumstances outweigh aggravating circumstances recommended sentence life imprisonment trial judge pursuant authority amended florida statute overruled jury recommendation sentenced petitioner death florida affirmed two dissents ii petitioner makes three separate claims based prohibition ex post facto laws related claim based upon equal protection clause fourteenth amendment first ex post facto claim addressed change function judge jury imposition death sentences florida time committed acts charged time tried second ex post facto claim grounded contention time acted valid death penalty statute effect florida third claim relates stringent parole requirements attached life sentence new law discussion relevant changes florida procedures brings claims focus murders petitioner convicted alleged occurred december kelly ann january april ryder scott period time stat ann supp written provided person convicted capital felony punished death unless verdict included recommendation mercy majority jury june struck georgia death penalty statute violative eighth fourteenth amendments furman georgia shortly thereafter july donaldson sack florida found florida death penalty statutes inconsistent furman late florida enacted new death penalty procedure laws amending inter alia opinion justice stewart justice powell justice stevens proffitt florida constitutionality statute upheld details length operation revised defendant found guilty capital felony separate sentencing hearing held trial judge trial jury evidence judge deems relevant sentencing may admitted certain evidence relating aggravating mitigating circumstances must admitted jury majority vote renders advisory decision binding based upon aggravating mitigating circumstances must also weigh aggravating mitigating circumstances imposes sentence death must set forth written findings fact regarding aggravating mitigating circumstances judgment conviction sentence death subject automatic priority review florida light changes must adjudge petitioner ex post facto claims petitioner argues change role judge jury imposition death sentence florida time murder time trial constitutes ex post facto violation petitioner views change florida procedure depriving substantial right jury determine without review trial judge whether penalty imposed conclude changes law procedural whole ameliorative ex posto facto violation article constitution prohibits state passing ex post facto law cases attempted precisely delimit scope latin phrase instead given substance accretion case law beazell ohio justice stone summarized characteristics ex post facto law settled decisions well known citation may dispensed statute punishes crime act previously committed innocent done makes burdensome punishment crime commission deprives one charged crime defense available according law time act committed prohibited ex post facto even though may work disadvantage defendant procedural change ex post facto example hopt utah date alleged homicide convicted felon called witness subsequent date prior trial case law changed convicted felon called stand testified implicating hopt crime charged even though change law obviously detrimental impact upon defendant found law ex post facto neither made criminal theretofore innocent act aggravated crime previously committed provided greater punishment changed proof necessary convict thompson missouri defendant convicted murder solely upon circumstantial evidence conviction reversed missouri inadmissibility certain evidence prior second trial law changed make evidence admissible defendant convicted nonetheless held change procedural violative ex post facto clause case hand change statute clearly procedural new statute simply altered methods employed determining whether death penalty imposed change quantum punishment attached crime following language hopt utah supra applicable equal force case hand summarizes conclusion change procedural violation ex post facto clause crime present defendant indicted punishment prescribed therefor quantity degree proof necessary establish guilt remained unaffected subsequent statute hence petitioner speculation jury recommended life prior procedure effect compelling must compare two statutory procedures toto determine new may fairly characterized onerous old procedure death penalty presumed unless jury unbridled discretion made recommendation mercy florida legislature enacted new procedure specifically provide constitutional procedural protections required furman thus providing capital defendants rather less judicial protection protections thus provided upheld proffitt substantial separate hearing held defendant allowed present relevant mitigating evidence jury renders advisory verdict based upon perception aggravating mitigating factors case makes final determination may impose death making written finding insufficient mitigating circumstances outweigh aggravating circumstances finally may termed tripartite review florida required review sentence death required review present old procedure means perfunctory noted proffitt time florida vacated death sentences reviewed date perhaps importantly florida held following standard must used review trial rejection jury recommendation life order sustain sentence death following jury recommendation life facts suggesting sentence death clear convincing virtually reasonable person differ tedder state emphasis added cited approbation proffitt florida petitioner second ex post facto claim based contention time murdered children death penalty effect florida contends earlier statute enacted legislature time acted found florida invalid decision furman georgia therefore argues petitioner valid death penalty effect florida date actions sophistic argument mocks substance ex post facto clause whether old statute future withstand constitutional attack clearly indicated florida view severity murder degree punishment legislature wished impose upon murderers statute intended provide maximum deterrence existence statute books provided fair warning degree culpability state ascribed act murder petitioner highly technical argument odds statement chicot county dist baxter state bank courts proceeded theory act congress found unconstitutional law inoperative conferring rights imposing duties hence affording basis challenged decree norton shelby county chicago ry hackett quite clear however broad statements effect determination unconstitutionality must taken qualifications actual existence statute prior determination operative fact may consequences justly ignored petitioner third ex post facto contention based fact new florida statute provides anyone sentenced life imprisonment must serve least years becoming eligible parole prior statute contained limitation florida lee state found provision restricting parole constitutionally applied crimes committed prior effective date petitioner contends nonetheless enactment florida legislature amounts ex post facto law may successfully challenge death sentence imposed upon petitioner course receive life sentence added onus attaching result change florida law effect lindsey washington stated effect new statute make mandatory maximum sentence prisoners may held confinement entire fifteen year period even admitted parole become eligible expiration terms fixed board remain subject surveillance parole may expiration fifteen years revoked discretion board cancelled governor true petitioners might sentenced fifteen years old statute ex post facto clause looks standard punishment prescribed statute rather sentence actually imposed constitution forbids application new punitive measure crime already consummated detriment material disadvantage wrongdoer kring missouri medley thompson utah reason increase possible penalty ex post facto calder bull dall cummings missouri wall malloy south carolina regardless length sentence actually imposed since measure punishment prescribed later statute severe earlier state callahan la state smith pac emphasis added lindsey came washington claim change state law respecting sentence imposed upon one convicted felony grand larceny violated ex post facto clause time lindsey committed larceny law provided maximum sentence years minimum sentence less months time lindsey sentenced law changed provide mandatory sentence even though new statute convict admitted parole time far short expiration mandatory sentence observed even parole remain subject surveillance parole board parole subject revocation lindsey received sentence new law within permissible bounds old law albeit outer limits bounds new law sentence received old law sentencing judge discretion imposed much shorter sentence contrast petitioner lindsey complaining abstract change law events proved applicability case complaint new law totally eliminated sentence less years convicted larceny thereby assured receive discretionary maximum sentence old law think excerpted language lindsey must read light facts mean one barred challenging change penal code ex post facto grounds simply sentence received new law onerous might received old one thing find ex post facto violation new law defendant must receive sentence old law maximum discretionary spectrum length quite another case change effect defendant proceedings complains petitioner make claim comparable lindsey new law life imprisonment death remain possible alternative sentences read excerpted portion quoted language lindsey confer standing defendant complain added burden newly attached sentence never imposed language assist hold petitioner sentenced death may complain burdens attached life sentence new law may attached old furman decision decision donaldson sack florida resentenced prisoners sentence death pursuant old statute life imprisonment anderson state baker petitioner argues since crimes committed decision furman imposition death sentence upon pursuant new statute effect time trial denies equal protection laws petitioner simply similarly situated whose sentences commuted neither tried sentenced prior furman effect former statute provide sufficient warning gravity florida attached murder make application new statute consistent ex post facto clause constitution florida obviously draw line point whose cases progressed sufficiently far legal process governed solely old statute concomitant unconstitutionality death penalty provision whose cases involved acts properly subject punishment new statute nothing irrational florida decision relegate petitioner latter class since new statute effect time trial sentence iii understandably extensive pretrial publicity concerning several aspects case accept petitioner assertion brief petitioner substantial media coverage including number television radio stories regarding various aspects case murphy florida reviewed trial many jurors heard defendant extensive news coverage characterizing previous cases overturned conviction grounds involving trial atmosphere utterly corrupted press coverage recognized qualified jurors need however totally ignorant facts issues involved hold mere existence preconceived notion guilt innocence accused without sufficient rebut presumption prospective juror impartiality establish impossible standard sufficient juror lay aside impression opinion render verdict based evidence presented quoting irvin dowd florida case noted prospective jurors interviewed petitioner exercised peremptory challenges specifically referring decision murphy concluded find record trial judge everything possible insure impartial trial defendant jurors carefully extensively examined defense counsel determine fair impartial sequestered comprehensive gag order placed participants trial appellant failed show receive fair impartial trial setting trial inherently prejudicial affirmed footnotes see florida appellate rule text statutes follows recommendation mercy defendant found guilty jury offense punishable death shall sentenced death unless verdict includes recommendation mercy majority jury verdict includes recommendation mercy majority jury shall sentence defendant life imprisonment defendant found guilty offense punishable death plea guilty jury waived shall sentenced death life imprisonment stat ann supp penalties felonies misdemeanors person convicted capital felony shall punished death unless verdict includes recommendation mercy majority jury case punishment shall life imprisonment defendant found guilty capital felony plea guilty jury waived shall sentenced death life imprisonment sic discretion stat ann constitutionality statute upheld florida state dixon proffitt florida full text revised supp follows sentence death life imprisonment capital felonies proceedings determine sentence separate proceedings issue penalty upon conviction adjudication guilt defendant capital felony shall conduct separate sentencing proceeding determine whether defendant sentenced death life imprisonment authorized proceeding shall conducted trial judge trial jury soon practicable impossibility inability trial jury unable reconvene hearing issue penalty determined guilt accused trial judge may summon special juror jurors provided chapter determine issue imposition penalty trial jury waived defendant pleaded guilty sentencing proceeding shall conducted jury impaneled purpose unless waived defendant proceeding evidence may presented matter deems relevant sentence shall include matters relating aggravating mitigating circumstances enumerated subsections evidence deems probative value may received regardless admissibility exclusionary rules evidence provided defendant accorded fair opportunity rebut hearsay statements however subsection shall construed authorize introduction evidence secured violation constitutions state florida state defendant counsel shall permitted present argument sentence death advisory sentence jury hearing evidence jury shall deliberate render advisory sentence based upon following matters whether sufficient aggravating circumstances exist enumerated subsection whether sufficient mitigating circumstances exist enumerated subsection outweigh aggravating circumstances found exist based considerations whether defendant sentenced life imprisonment death findings support sentence death notwithstanding recommendation majority jury weighing aggravating mitigating circumstances shall enter sentence life imprisonment death imposes sentence death shall set forth writing findings upon sentence death based facts sufficient aggravating circumstances exist enumerated subsection insufficient mitigating circumstances enumerated subsection outweigh aggravating circumstances case imposes death sentence determination shall supported specific written findings fact based upon circumstances subsections upon records trial sentencing proceedings make findings requiring death sentence shall impose sentence life imprisonment accordance section review judgment sentence judgment conviction sentence death shall subject automatic review florida within sixty days certification sentencing entire record unless time extended additional period exceed thirty days good cause shown review shall priority cases shall heard accordance rules promulgated aggravating circumstances aggravating circumstances shall limited following capital felony committed person sentence imprisonment defendant previously convicted another capital felony felony involving use threat violence person defendant knowingly created great risk death many persons capital felony committed defendant engaged accomplice commission attempt commit flight committing attempting commit robbery rape arson burglary kidnapping aircraft piracy unlawful throwing placing discharging destructive device bomb capital felony committed purpose avoiding preventing lawful arrest effecting escape custody capital felony committed pecuniary gain capital felony committed disrupt hinder lawful exercise governmental function enforcement laws capital felony especially heinous atrocious cruel mitigating circumstances mitigating circumstances shall following defendant significant history prior criminal activity capital felony committed defendant influence extreme mental emotional disturbance victim participant defendant conduct consented act defendant accomplice capital felony committed another person participation relatively minor defendant acted extreme duress substantial domination another person capacity defendant appreciate criminality conduct conform conduct requirements law substantially impaired age defendant time crime independent bases decision example beazell ohio found procedural change ex post facto even though change means ameliorative example jury recommendation may affected fact members jury final arbiters life death may chosen leniency knew decision rested ultimately shoulders trial judge might followed course vote final since time state informs us florida reversed nine death sentences affirmed eight brief respondent respondent notice additional authority fact trial judge imposed death sentence jury recommended life case way denigrates procedural protections afforded new procedure judge circumstances obvious substantial aggravating factors significant mitigating factors adduced demonstrate nature crime rather scope procedure resulted death sentence case set forth extenso conclusions trial sentencing phase sufficient great aggravating circumstances exist justify sentence death concluding findings like point years legal experience almost exclusively field criminal law judge defense attorney criminal cases prosecutor eight one half years criminal judge circuit judge felony division three one half years sic years defended prosecuted held trial almost every type serious crime years legal experience never known heinous atrocious cruel crime one experience sordid tragic violent side life confined courtroom world war ii army paratrooper served overseas ground combat friends blown bits seen death suffering every conceivable form easily shocked ffected tragedy cruelty murder helpless defenseless innocent child cruel atrocious heinous crime eve personally known deserving sentence death app mr join opinion crucial factor case opinion recites petitioner committed crime florida statute permitted death penalty offense petitioner least constructively notice penalty might indeed follow actions time elapsed commission offense trial statute changed provide different procedures determining whether death appropriate punishment new procedures taken whole anything favorable petitioner consequently change read otherwise opinion suggests justice brennan justice marshall dissenting adhering views death penalty circumstances cruel unusual punishment prohibited eighth fourteenth amendments gregg georgia vacate death sentence case justice stevens justice brennan justice marshall join dissenting simple facts relevant question law presented case time petitioner offense constitutional procedure imposing death penalty florida several months offense florida enacted death penalty statute upheld proffitt florida statute passed matter florida law crime committed petitioner capital offense undisputed therefore law passed offense source florida power put petitioner death holds florida may apply law petitioner without violating ex post facto clause view unconstitutional law florida statute books time offense clearly indicated florida view severity murder degree punishment legislature wished impose upon murderers ante concludes fair warning provided invalid statute sufficient compliance ex post facto provision constitution ante conclusion represents clear departure test applied past cases construing ex post facto clause test stated lindsey washington language might written present case mind constitution forbids application new punitive measure crime already consummated detriment material disadvantage wrongdoer adhere lindsey test fair warning touchstone two reasons first fair warning provide workable test deciding particular cases second justice harlan explained fair notice important value underlying constitutional prohibition ex post facto clause also provides basic protection improperly motivated capricious legislation ensures sovereign govern impartially perceived fair warning test extends beyond case allow government action opposite impartial fair warning rationale defeat purpose clause standard fairness warning contained unconstitutional statute judged itinerant may slightest notion florida statute books contain judged differently local lawyer assumption former fair warning rest somewhat unrealistic presumption everyone deemed know law words statute books constitute law citizens bound know law bound know expounded kring missouri consistent application presumption require conclusion neither lawyer itinerant fair warning must also presumed know old florida statute nullity test fairly applied basis particular individual actual knowledge law applied basis presumed knowledge law requires death sentence vacated applied death penalty statutes test dramatically inadequate makes assumption existence statute books statute provided fair warning petitioner penalty florida seek impose convicted murder ante contrary capital punishment time furman practical purposes run course furman georgia white concurring death penalty time freakishly imposed cruel unusual way struck lightning cruel unusual stewart concurring possibility capricious punishment fair warning meaningful use words rationale applicable cases state replaces unconstitutional death penalty statute subsequent statute dramatically odds common understanding meaning clause understanding plainly revealed nationwide response invalidation death penalty furman georgia supra hundreds prisoners death row time decision none resentenced death persons time offense precisely fair warning petitioner state courts state legislatures uniformly acted assumption none executed pursuant subsequently enacted statute fair warning rationale adopts today constitutional barrier correct ex post facto clause intended barrier capricious government action today holding actually perverse human life stake need prevent capricious punishment greatest decisions furman proffitt establish cf skinner oklahoma ex rel williamson yet holding may lead results intolerably arbitrary example trial miller state delayed defendant incompetence stand trial time capacity restored florida enacted new death penalty statute fortuitous illness defendant tried promptly escaped death penalty delay control enactment ex post facto statute held entitle state put death capricious consequence particularly grotesque miller may well advised trial decision furman removed possibility death sentence logical application fair warning rationale lead manifestly intolerable results assume case ultimately regarded nothing archaic gargoyle nevertheless distressing witness demeaning construction majestic bulwark framework constitution respectfully dissent atrocious character individual crimes recounts detail course relevant legal issue fact jurors heard evidence voted spare life response decision furman georgia florida held florida death penalty abolished even category capital offenses ceased exist possible procedure existing florida law imposing penalty donaldson sack state whalen following decisions therefore crime committed petitioner capital offense article provides state shall pass bill attainder ex post facto law law impairing obligation contracts separate prohibition ex post facto laws art applies congress support conclusion cites single case involving ex post facto clause instead relies solely case held decision serve basis retroactive attack final judgment civil case chicot county dist baxter state bank cf kring missouri reviewed number state cases involving ex post facto legislation explicitly endorsed excellent observation judge denio new york appeals one criminally punished country except according law prescribed government sovereign authority imputed offence committed existed law time quoting hartung people emphasis original language justice stone opinion believe plainly applicable case true petitioners might sentenced fifteen years old statute ex post facto clause looks standard punishment prescribed statute rather sentence actually imposed constitution forbids application new punitive measure crime already consummated detriment material disadvantage wrongdoer kring missouri supra medley thompson utah reason increase possible penalty ex post facto calder bull dall cummings missouri wall malloy south carolina regardless length sentence actually imposed since measure punishment prescribed later statute severe earlier state callahan la state smith pac removal possibility sentence less fifteen years end petitioners freed confinement tutelage parole revocable operates detriment sense standard punishment adopted new statute onerous old hardly thought punishment murder life imprisonment death changed death alone latter penalty applied homicide committed change marion state neb yet striking instance detriment ensues revision statute providing maximum minimum punishment making maximum compulsory need inquire whether technically increase punishment annexed crime see calder bull supra plainly substantial disadvantage petitioners justice harlan understood ex post facto clause serving purpose beyond ensuring fair notice given legal consequences individual actions stated aside problems warning specific intent policy prohibition ex post facto legislation seem rest apprehension legislature imposing penalties past conduct even though conduct properly made criminal even though defendant engaged conduct past believed wrong instance penalty increased retroactively existing crime may acting purpose prevent dangerous conduct generally impose legislation penalty specific persons classes persons james separate opinion unlike procedural guarantees bill rights originally applicable federal government ex post facto clause always applied justice chase writing years constitution adopted stated clause probably result ex post facto laws bills attainder passed england exceptions advocates laws stimulated ambition personal resentment vindictive malice prevent similar acts violence injustice federal state legislatures prohibited passing bill attainder ex post facto law calder bull dall important indication thought times justice chase believed clause state inherent rule government fundamental principle flows nature free republican governments man compelled laws require refrain acts laws permit genius nature spirit state governments amount prohibition acts legislation general principles law reason forbid maintain federal state legislature possesses powers expressly restrained opinion political heresy altogether inadmissible free republican governments italics omitted comment judge learned hand unfairness extending statute limitations run even greater force applied kind situation question turns upon much violence done instinctive feelings justice fair play state assure man become safe pursuit thereafter withdraw assurance seems us unfair dishonest falter perhaps area example worth argument grayned city rockford demonstrators convicted ordinance prohibited picketing within feet school affirmed convictions ordinance reversed convictions ordinance reason reversal ordinance exempted peaceful picketing school involved labor dispute therefore held invalid neutral content see police dept chicago mosley meantime ordinance amended delete labor exemption thus removing first amendment problem understand today decision demonstrators convicted violating ordinance basis actions since fair notice state intended prohibit conduct least grayned reason think ordinance passed retroactive application mind sure today one considered application constitutional potential kind legislative prosecutorial abuse created holding precisely potential framers wished avoid indeed holding today seems inconsistent holding grayned grayned agreed concession amendment course effect appellant personal situation went say ecessarily must consider facial constitutionality ordinance effect appellant arrested convicted today holding difficult see amendment simply applied ex post facto cure defect original statute