netherland warden et argued march decided june held simmons rule new therefore used disturb petitioner death sentence pp teague disturb final state conviction sentence unless said time conviction sentence became final state acted objectively unreasonably extending relief later sought federal teague requires federal habeas determine date conviction became final consider whether state considering defendant claim time became final felt compelled existing precedent conclude rule seeks required constitution determine whether new rule nonetheless falls within one two narrow exceptions teague doctrine lambrix singletary pp petitioner conviction became final simmons decided simmons unlikely candidate old rule status opinion simmons array views expressed suggests rule announced light precedent susceptible debate among reasonable minds butler mckellar assessment legal landscape existing time petitioner conviction sentence became final bolsters conclusion contrary petitioner position result simmons follow ineluctably decisions gardner florida skipper south carolina seven opinions gardner produced narrow holding death penalty procedure permitting consideration secret information relevant offender character record presentence report provided defendant violates eighth amendment petitioner points secret evidence case evidence sought present jury historical evidence character record evidence concerning might happen extant law sentence imposed skipper evidence past behavior defendant unconstitutionally prevented adducing distinction information concerning state postsentencing law evidence specifically related defendant also heart two cases complex legal landscape california ramos concluded california reasonably chosen provide limited postsentence information capital sentencing jury namely possibility pardon emphasized conclusion override choices permit juries informed postsentencing proceedings including parole general proposition retained prerogative determine much juries informed postsentencing legal regime given credence caldwell mississippi determined prosecution judge improperly left jury impression death sentence final extensively reviewed plurality concluding ramos notwithstanding sentencing juries never given information postsentencing appellate proceedings justice concluding information accurate provided light cases hardly unreasonable jurist conclude state acted constitutionally choosing advise jurors events follow death sentence recommendation accordingly simmons announced new rule maynot applied unless falls within teague exception pp simmons narrow right rebuttal watershed rule criminal procedure implicating fundamental fairness accuracy criminal proceeding second exception teague gideon wainwright distinguished pp affirmed thomas delivered opinion rehnquist scalia kennedy joined stevens filed dissenting opinion souter ginsburg breyer joined notice opinion subject formal revision publication preliminary print reports readers requested notify reporter decisions wash ington typographical formal errors order corrections may made preliminary print goes press joseph roger iii petitioner netherland warden et al writ certiorari appeals fourth circuit june justice thomas delivered opinion case presents question whether rule set simmons south carolina requires capital defendant permitted inform sentencing jury parole ineligible prosecution argues presents future danger new within meaning teague lane thereby inapplicable already final death sentence conclude new therefore used disturb petitioner death sentence final six years simmons decided helen schartner last seen alive late evening february leaving county line lounge virginia beach virginia lifeless body discovered next day muddy field across highway lounge schartner head laid open several blows barrel handgun strangled violence bones neck broken finger imprints left skin abundance physical evidence linked petitioner crime scene crime among things tire tracks near schartner body wereconsistent petitioner car bodily fluids recovered schartner body matched petitioner indicted counts capital murder rape sodomy abduction count later dismissed jury trial petitioner found guilty murder rape sodomy counts subsequent sentencing hearing prosecution sought establish two aggravating factors petitioner presented future danger murder wanton vile inhuman evidence presented prior schartner murder petitioner convicted host offenses including kidnaping assault another woman parole murder fellow inmate earlier prison stint petitioner sought jury instruction explaining eligible parole sentenced life prison trial judge denied petitioner request sentencing hearing jury found beyond reasonable doubt petitioner constitute continuous serious threat society conduct committing offense outrageously wanton vile inhuman record jury recommended petitioner sentenced death trial judge adopted jury recommendation sentenced petitioner years imprisonment rape sodomy convictions death electrocution schartner murder petitioner appealed virginia affirmed conviction sentence commonwealth denied certiorari virginia petitioner efforts state habeas relief unsuccessful denied certiorari thompson petitioner filed federal habeas claim contended inter alia newly obtained dna evidence established actually innocent death sentence faulty prevented informing jury ineligibility parole district rejected petitioner claim innocence thompson civ action ed app agreed petitioner entitled resentencing intervening decision simmons south carolina supra district described simmons holding defendant future dangerousness issue state law prohibits defendant release parole due process clause fourteenth amendment requires sentencing jury informed defendant eligible parole app concluded simmons rule new thus available petitioner prosecutor obviously used prior releases cross examination closing argument argue defendant presented future danger society app citations omitted district held petitioner entitled resentenced demonstrated fact ineligible parole divided en banc appeals fourth circuit reversed exhaustive review precedents appeals majority determined simmons paradigmatic new rule aid petitioner fourth circuit closely divided whether simmons set forth new rule every member agreed petitioner claim actual innocence even colorable see also ervin concurring part dissenting part declined review petitioner claim actual innocence granted certiorari determine whether rule simmons new see also ibid scalia respecting grant certiorari state prisoner may upset state conviction sentence federal collateral review must demonstrate threshold matter made rule seeks benefit new stated variously formula determining rule new see graham collins holding constitutes new rule within meaning teague breaks new ground imposes new obligation federal government dictated precedent existing time defendant conviction became final quoting teague emphasis original bottom however teague doctrine validates reasonable good faith interpretations existing precedents made state courts even though shown contrary later decisions butler mckellar citation omitted reasonableness many contexts objective standard stringer black accordingly disturb final state conviction sentence unless said state time conviction sentence became final acted objectively unreasonably extending relief later sought federal teague inquiry conducted three steps first date defendant conviction became final determined lambrix singletary slip next habeas considers whether state considering thedefendant claim time conviction became final felt compelled existing precedent conclude rule seeks required constitution ibid quoting saffle parks alterations lambrix rule new rule determined new final step teague analysis requires determine whether rule nonetheless falls within one two narrow exceptions teague doctrine first limited exception new rules forbidding criminal punishment certain primary conduct rules prohibiting certain category punishment class defendants status offense penry lynaugh second even circumscribed exception permits retroactive application watershed rules criminal procedure implicating fundamental fairness accuracy criminal proceeding graham supra quoting teague internal quotation marks omitted whatever precise scope second exception clearly meant apply small core rules requiring observance procedures implicit concept ordered liberty graham supra internal quotation marks omitted petitioner conviction became final october declined review virginia decision affirming sentence direct review simmons rule petitioner seeks avail decided simmons defendant found guilty capital murder brutal killing elderly woman defendant also assaulted elderly women resulting convictions rendered least time sentenced ineligible forparole prosecutors south carolina permitted argue sentencing juries defendants future dangerousness appropriate consideration determining whether affix sentence death plurality opinion simmons sought rebut prosecution generalized argument future dangerousness presenting jury evidence dangerousness limited elderly women none likely encounter prison simmons efforts shore argument demonstrating jury south carolina law ineligible parole rebuffed trial reversed judgment south carolina upholding simmons death sentence plurality noted prosecutor future dangerousness argument necessarily undercut fact alternative sentence death life without parole plurality relying gardner florida skipper south carolina concluded ecause truthful information parole ineligibility allows defendant deny explain showing future dangerousness due process plainly requires allowed bring jury attention justice joined chief justice justice kennedy concurred judgment providing dispositive votes necessary sustain concurrence recognized previously noted approval state courts held improper jury consider informed argument instruction possibility commutation pardon parole california ramos decision whether inform jury possibility early release generally left petitioner asserts simmons rule covers case parole ineligible allowed relay information jury order rebut prosecutor argument future dangerousness simmons requires vacatur sentence decide whether petitioner claim falls within scope simmons must determine whether rule simmons new teague purposes whether rule falls within one two exceptions teague bar observe outset simmons unlikely candidate old rule status noted opinion rather justice blackmun plurality opinion four members concluded due process clause required allowing defendant inform jury argument instruction parole ineligibility face prosecution future dangerousness argument two members plurality justice souter justice stevens held eighth amendment mandated trial instruct jury capital defendant parole ineligibility even future dangerousness issue souter concurring justiceginsburg also member plurality wrote concurrence grounded due process clause chief justice justice kennedy joined justice decisive opinion concurring judgment described two justices dissented arguing result fit precedents case required constitution opinion scalia joined thomas array views expressed simmons suggests rule announced light precedent susceptible debate among reasonable minds butler cf sawyer smith citing evidence caldwell mississippi announced new rule views three caldwell dissenters assessment legal landscape existing time petitioner conviction sentence became final bolsters conclusion petitioner review relevant precedent discloses decisions relied upon simmons namely gardner florida supra skipper south carolina supra petitioner asserts reasonable jurist considering claim light two decisions felt compelled conclude rule petitioner seeks required constitution brief petitioner quoting saffle emphasis omitted gardner defendant received death sentence judge reviewed presentence report made available defendant gardner produced opinion plurality concluded defendant denied due process law death sentence imposed least part basis information hadno opportunity deny explain justice white concurred judgment providing narrowest grounds decision among justices whose votes necessary judgment cf marks concluded eighth amendment violated procedure selecting people death penalty permits consideration secret information relevant character record individual offender internal quotation marks omitted emphasis added skipper prosecutor argued penalty phase death sentence appropriate defendant pose disciplinary problems sentenced prison likely rape prisoners skipper efforts introduce evidence behaved made good adjustment jail time arrest trial rejected trial ibid concluded vidence defendant pose danger spared incarcerated must considered potentially mitigating eddings oklahoma evidence may excluded sentencer consideration omitted holding grounded eddings eighth amendment also cited due process clause stating prosecution specifically relies prediction future dangerousness asking death penalty due process required defendant sentenced death basis information opportunity deny explain quoting gardner supra simmons argues petitioner presented merely variation facts skipper prosecution raised issue future dangerousness skipper unconstitutionally prevented demonstratingthat behaved prison thus danger fellow prisoners simmons likewise says petitioner allowed inform jury rather prison present danger elderly women rule simmons allegedly set forth decision skipper turn relied upon decision gardner petitioner argues death sentence flawed affirmed may set aside without running afoul teague even two cases sum total relevant precedent bearing rule simmons petitioner argument result simmons followed ineluctably compelling gardner produced seven opinions none majority taking view expressed justice white opinion concurring judgment rule gardner see marks supra holding narrow one procedure selecting people death penalty permits consideration secret information relevant character record individual offender violates eighth amendment requirement reliability determination death appropriate citation internal quotation marks omitted emphasis added petitioner points secret evidence given sentencer tohim evidence sought present jury historical evidence character record evidence concerning operation extant legal regime skipper evidence defendant unconstitutionally prevented adducing evidence past behavior step ruling defendant must permitted present evidence sort requirement afforded opportunity describe extant legal regime cf simmons concurring judgment whatever support gardner skipper standing alone might lend petitioner claim simmons foregone conclusion legal landscape far complex respondent points fourth circuit majority relied two cases decided time petitioner conviction became final bear constitutionality california ramos caldwell mississippi ramos upheld instruction informed jury defendant sentenced life prison without parole nonetheless rendered parole eligible governor elected commute sentence concluded instruction neither introduced constitutionally irrelevant factor sentencing process ramos diverted jury attention task rendering individualized sentencing determination within bounds constitution stated defer california identification governor power commute life sentence substantive factor presented sentencing jury consideration emphasized however conclusion taken override contrary judgmentof state legislatures capital juries learn governor commutation power ibid many state courts pointed held improper jury consider informed argument instruction possibility commutation pardon parole emphasis added see also ibid citing inter alia code ann describing statute prohibiting argument possibility pardon parole clemency emphasis added sit judges legislators wisdom decision permit juror consideration possible commutation best left dissenters ramos disputed constitutionality ever informing juries governor power commute death sentence see opinion marshall joined brennan blackmun jj see also asserting consideration capital sentencing jury defendant prospects commutation parole unconstitutional general proposition retained prerogative determine much juries informed postsentencing legal regime given credence caldwell mississippi supra case prosecution judge concluded improperly left jury impression death sentence final extensively reviewed justice marshall authored opinion except one portion portion justice marshall writing plurality concluded ramos notwithstanding sentencing juries given information postsentencing appellate proceedings justice provided fifth vote necessary judgment join portion justice marshall opinion wrote separately stating ramos state choose whether instruc jurors sentencing procedure including existence limited nature appellate review long information chose provide accurate concurring part concurring judgment light ramos caldwell think plain reasonable jurist felt compelled adopt rule later set simmons noted neither gardner skipper involved prohibition imparting information concerning might happen extant law sentence imposed rather information issue case information pertaining defendant character record although principal opinions simmons found skipper turn relied gardner persuasive justice distinguished skipper facts presented simmons ground see opinion concurring judgment suggesting rule announced simmons inevitable see also scalia dissenting distinction information concerning state postsentencing law one hand evidence specifically related defendant also heart ramos caldwell ramos majority concluded california reasonably chosen provide limited postsentence information capital sentencing jury though noted many elected opposite principal dissent ramos forbidden provision information postsentence occurrences reason constitute evidence concerning defendant character nature crime opinion marshall caldwell plurality contested whether fact appellate review available capital defendant sentenced death simply factor wholly irrelevant determination appropriate sentence plurality concluded whether provision information constitutional policy choice favor jury education justice concluded opinion concurring part concurring judgment reasonable jurist drawn distinction information defendant information concerning extant legal regime hardly unreasonable light ramos caldwell jurist conclude state acted constitutionally choosing advise jurors events follow recommendation death sentence provided legal regime moment indeed given sentiments expressed justice marshall ramos dissent caldwell plurality information postsentence procedures never go jury given decision whether provide information described ramos majority opinion justice concurrence caldwell policy choice left reasonable jurist may well concluded surely constitutional course confronted request inform jury defendant parole eligibility silence teague asks state judges judge reasonably presciently see stringer black souter dissenting simmons carved exception general rule described ramos first time ever requiring defendant allowed inform jury postsentencing legal eventualities jurist failure predict think deemed unreasonable accordingly rule announced simmons new petitionermay avail unless rule simmons falls within one exceptions teague bar petitioner contends even new rule simmons falls within second exception teague permits retroactive application watershed rules criminal procedure implicating fundamental fairness accuracy criminal proceeding graham quoting teague petitioner describes practice condemned simmons shocking one brief petitioner rule forbidding told par gideon wainwright wehave cited example sort rule falling within teague second exception see saffle cases rest upon belief certain procedural protections essential prevent miscarriage justice brief petitioner citations omitted disagree unlike sweeping rule gideon established affirmative right counsel felony cases narrow right rebuttal simmons affords defendants limited class capital cases hardly alter ed understanding bedrock procedural elements essential fairness proceeding sawyer quoting teague supra quoting turn mackey harlan concurring judgments part dissenting part emphasis teague simmons possesses little watershed character envisioned teague second exception reasons stated herein judgment appeals affirmed ordered joseph roger iii petitioner netherland warden et al writ certiorari appeals fourth circuit june justice stevens justice souter justice ginsburg justice breyer join dissenting although petitioner guilt established undisputed conduct sentencing hearing led imposition death penalty violated due process clause fourteenth amendment eligibility death sentence depended prosecutor ability convince jury probability commit criminal acts violence constitute continuous threat society app support argument jury nothing short death penalty sufficient prosecutor emphasized petitioner misconduct outside prison system stated forfeited right tolive among us nevertheless trial refused allow petitioner advise jury death sentence imposed imprisoned rest life without possibility parole thus denied opportunity make fair response prosecutor misleading argument future danger allegedly posed community virtually unanimous decision simmons south carolina recognized fundamental unfairness restrictive procedure followed case justice opinion treated expressing narrowest ground decision rested explained capital sentencing proceedings must course satisfy dictates due process clause clemons mississippi one hallmarks due process adversary system defendant ability meet state case cf crane kentucky capital cases haveheld defendant future dangerousness consideration state may rely seeking death penalty see california ramos prosecution specifically relies prediction future dangerousness asking death penalty elemental due process requirement defendant sentenced death basis information opportunity deny explain requires defendant afforded opportunity introduce evidence point skipper south carolina quoting gardner florida plurality opinion see also powell concurring judgment concurring judgment analysis begins majority tersely ends petitioner contention rule simmons implicates fundamental fairness accuracy criminal proceeding saffle parks therefore retroactively applied even constitute new rule teague lane decision teague recognized two exceptions general rule nonretroactivity relevant exception purposes establishes new rule applied retroactively requires observance procedures implicit concept ordered liberty ibid quoting mackey harlan concurring judgments part dissenting part turn quotes palko connecticut opinion provided basis limitations collateral review adopted teague justice harlan emphasized importance protecting bedrock procedural elements essential substance full hearing mackey endorsed view caveat exception limited procedures without likelihood accurate determination guilt innocence seriously diminished teague since teague decided never found rule essential fairness proceeding fall exception view theright simmons right respond inaccurate misleading argument surely bedrock procedural element full fair hearing justice recognized opinion simmons right rebut prosecutor arguments hallmar due process concurring opinion see also ginsburg concurring case readily resolved core requirement due process right heard defendant denied ability respond state case deprived fundamental constitutional right fair opportunity present defense crane kentucky today argues simmons defined narrow right rebuttal defendants limited class capital cases ante therefore rule class rules essential accuracy criminal proceeding excepted teague nonretroactivity principle majority appears appreciate reason simmons holding applied directly narrow class capital defendants place procedures allowed prosecutor argue future dangerousness time prohibiting defendants using way successfully rebut state case simmons concurring judgment prevailing rule provided life without parole sentencing alternative required instruction explaining alternative jury although majority relies limited impact simmons rule discount importance broad consensus favor giving jury accurate information fact underscores importance rule applied simmons rule significance demonstrated evidence effect information life without parole alternative capital jury deliberations example two death sentences imposed virginia crimes committed january whereas ten imposed alone decline number death sentences attributed fact juries virginia must informed life without parole alternative see green death sentences decline virginia richmond times dispatch consensus among scholars practitioners drafted model penal code instructing jury completely available sentencing alternatives best way ensure accuracy sentencing see american law institute model penal code affirmed basic point beck alabama acknowledged likelihood jury find obviously guilty defendant eligible death penalty significantly increased arguably appropriate sentencing alternative available thus even rule simmons properly viewed new rule importance theaccuracy fairness capital sentencing proceeding applied consistently prisoners whose death sentences imposed violation rule whether sentenced simmons decided moreover extent fundamental principles underlying ruleneeded explicit articulation clearly expressed well sentencing proceeding distinguishing new rules new jurisprudence easy task evident thing rule new purposes rule announced simmons one gardner florida plurality concluded defendant due process rights violated death sentence imposed least part basis information opportunity deny explain nine years later skipper south carolina nine justices cited gardner approval establishing elemental due process requirement defendant sentenced death basis information opportunity deny explain gardner florida skipper see also powell concurring judgment correctly concludes exclusion proffered testimony violated due process etitioner death sentence violates rule gardner presented facts simmons surprise justice blackmun said principle announced gardner reaffirmed skipper compels decision today plurality opinion justice quoted gardner skipper proposition elemental due process requires defendant must allowed answer prosecutor prediction future dangerousness evidence point today however seeks revise import line cases first misstep analysis treatment gardner majority makes much fact lead opinion joined three justices instead accepting plurality due process analysis rule gardner takes justice white concurring opinion grounded eighth amendment expressing holding case reading gardner ignores fact justice white squarely adopted due process holding gardner opinion skipper although opinion accepted skipper argument exclusion evidence good behavior prison sentencing hearing violated eighth amendment requirement jury allowed consider relevant mitigating evidence justice white went way add endorsing gardner plurality statement law emphasizing elemental due process requirement provided even basic justification holding moreover inhis opinion concurring judgment skipper justice powell joined chief justice justice rehnquist rejected mitigating evidence rationale relying instead rule gardner thus skipper nine justices serving endorsed gardner holding due process violated sentencing determination rested information defendant permitted explain deny see also clemons mississippi citing gardner proposition apital sentencing proceedings must course satisfy dictates due process clause simmons scalia dissenting quoting skipper gardner indicat ing petitioner due process rights violated sentenced death basis information opportunity deny explain concluding petitioner show sentence violated principle skipper distinction majority able draw case simmons defendant skipper sought introduce evidence past behavior simmons wished opportunity describe extant legal regime ante distinction simply enough make rule simmons new cases prosecution seeking mislead jury argument excluded facts essential defendant actual circumstances rule skipper gardner defendant must allowed opportunity rebutarguments put forward prosecution simply turn whether rebuttal relies fact ineligible parole fact model prisoner two cases majority relies argue reasonable jurist thought right rebut prosecutor future dangerousness arguments simply provide support conclusion simmons announce new rule law california ramos caldwell mississippi focused analysis whether information presented withheld sentencing determination permitted accurate informed decision making part sentencer ramos held california capital sentencing procedure judge required inform jury sentence defendant death life without parole provide instruction governor commute life sentence without parole constitutionally infirm instruction course relevant jury first advised alternative death sentence option concealed jury simmons case correctly explained instruction commutation life sentence relevant issue future dangerousness consistent rule gardner provided jury accurate information preclude defendant offering argument evidence regarding governor power commute life sentence comment anticipated precise holding simmons concluded instruction review corrects misconception supplies jury accurate information deliberation selecting appropriate sentence ramos concluded state constitutionally require trial judges inform sentencing juries possibility commutation life sentence hold state constitutionally compelled majority today ante suggests ramos endorsement option involving choice two nonmisleading instructions one mentioning mentioning remote possibility parole might led reasonable state judges conclude allow juries misled future dangerousness issue concealing entirely legal certainty parole impossibility general rule applied ramos simply permits state courts give accurate instructions prevent juries misled sentencing options capital cases order decide simmons correctly need carv exception ante rule reading caldwell equally unpersuasive case prosecutor urged jury view finally determining whether defendant die death sentence subject appellate review justice controlling opinion explained prosecutor remarks improper inaccurate misleading manner diminished jury sense responsibility justice marshall plurality opinion suggested commenton appellate review wholly irrelevant sentencing determination today suggests state judges might reasonably concluded information postsentence procedures never go jury ante apart fact instruction describing sentencing alternative relate postsentence procedures see basis assuming concerns describing process appellate review jury might anything necessity providing jury accurate information sentencing options prosecutor makes misleading argument death penalty way prevent defendant future dangerousness outside prison system consistently appropriately shown particular concern procedures protect accuracy sentencing determinations capital cases today majority discards concern relies nonexistent tension gardner skipper one hand ramos caldwell justify refusal apply rule simmons case respectfully dissent footnotes virginia concluded jury recommendation death sentence based first aggravating factor petitioner future dangerousness commonwealth aggravating factor us petitioner makes much language simmons plurality opinion principle announced gardner reaffirmed skipper compels decision today simmons south carolina emphasis added language expressing view four justices certainly evidence tending prove rule simmons new dictated existing precedent far conclusive noted ourts frequently view decisions controlled governed prior opinions even aware reasonable contrary conclusions reached courts butler mckellar conclusion rule simmons new finds support decisions state courts lower federal courts see butler state federal adopted rule simmons fact skipper south carolina several courts upheld constitutional challenge practices similar identical later forbidden simmons see turner bass rev grounds sub nom turner murray estelle cert denied sub nom mckaskle king lynaugh en banc cert denied peterson murray cert denied knox collins see also turner commonwealth cert denied mueller commonwealth cert denied addition several courts consider question along fourth circuit case concluded rule simmons new see johnson scott cert denied sub nom johnson johnson mueller murray commonwealth christy cert denied means inevitable absent application rule simmons miscarriage justice occur note example time sentenced death helen schartner murder petitioner already convicted murder committed prison informing sentencing jury petitioner spend rest days prison necessarily rebutted argument presented continuing danger closing statement sentencing proceeding prosecutor observed interesting able outside prison system matter months year half something happened app drawing parallels virginia murder kidnaping robbery petitioner convicted florida years earlier prosecutor said society fair honest people believe government believe justice system submit afailure florida criminal justice system paroling man prosecutor concluded argument saying ou may still sentence life prison ask ladies gentlemen system society believes criminal justice system government mean times committed crimes juries judges sentence ever meted man stopped nothing stopped nothing ever except punishment ask impose years following decision furman georgia unanimous opinions capital cases virtually nonexistent decision simmons south carolina came closer two justices dissented although teague lane focused accuracy guilt innocence determination long recognized sentencing procedures well trials must satisfy dictates due process clause see clemons mississippi unique character death penalty mandates special scrutiny procedures capital cases unfair procedure seriously diminishes likelihood accurate determination convicted defendant receive death penalty rather life without parole defendant innocent death penalty see sawyer whitley plainly encompassed teague exception commonly cited example rule fundamental fit category right counsel articulated gideon wainwright see simmons see listing whose capital punishment schemes one way another require jury informed life without parole either available alternative sentence one options jury free choose see also comment truth sentencing prospective retroactive application simmons south carolina chi rev eisenberg wells deadly confusion juror instructions capital cases cornell rev urors believe alternative death relatively short time prison tend sentence death paduano stafford smith deathly errors juror misconceptions concerning parole imposition death penalty colum hum rts rev ignores fact justice brennan justice marshall agreed plurality conclusion sentencing defendant based information permitted deny explain violated due process refused join judgment insofar permitted proceedings lead another death sentence see gardner florida opinion brennan marshall dissenting prosecution specifically relies prediction future dangerousness asking death penalty onlythe rule lockett eddings requires defendant afforded opportunity introduce evidence point also elemental due process requirement defendant sentenced death basis information opportunity deny explain gardner florida skipper south carolina cited approval provision model penal code recommending jury advised nature sentence imprisonment may imposed including implication respect possible release upon parole jury verdict sentence death california ramos quoting american law institute model penal code prop draft see gardner point view defendant different severity finality point view society action sovereign taking life one citizens also differs dramatically legitimate state action vital importance defendant community decision impose death sentence appear based reason rather caprice emotion see also ramos beck alabama