kansas marsh argued december decided june finding three aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances kansas jury convicted respondent marsh inter alia capital murder sentenced death marsh claimed direct appeal stat ann establishes unconstitutional presumption favor death directing imposition death penalty aggravating mitigating circumstances equipoise agreeing kansas concluded weighing equation violated eighth fourteenth amendments remanded new trial held jurisdiction review kansas judgment provision authorizes review state final judgment state statute validity questioned federal constitutional grounds permits review even proceedings complete federal claim finally decided later review federal issue whatever case outcome cox broadcasting cohn although marsh retried state determination death penalty statute unconstitutional final binding lower state courts thus state unable obtain review law case deemed lower decisions final purposes like circumstances see florida meyers per curiam pp state judgment supported adequate independent state grounds marsh maintains judgment based state law state previously reviewed statute state kleypas however kleypas rested federal law case state chastised kleypas avoiding constitutional issue squarely found unconstitutional face overruled kleypas relevant part pp kansas capital sentencing statute constitutional pp walton arizona requires approval kansas statute held state death penalty statute may give defendant burden prove mitigating circumstances outweigh aggravating circumstances fortiori kansas death penalty statute consistent constitution may direct imposition death penalty state proved beyond reasonable doubt mitigators outweigh aggravators including two equipoise pp even marsh contends walton directly control general principles death penalty jurisprudence lead conclusion long state system satisfies requirements furman georgia gregg georgia system must rationally narrow class defendants must permit jury render reasonable individualized sentencing determination state range discretion imposing death penalty including manner aggravating mitigating circumstances weighed use mitigation evidence product requirement defendants right present sentencers information relevant sentencing decision sentencers obliged consider information determining appropriate sentence thrust mitigation jurisprudence ends never held constitution requires specific method balancing aggravating mitigating factors pp kansas death penalty statute satisfies constitutional mandates furman progeny rationally narrows class defendants permits jury consider mitigating evidence relevant sentencing determination state weighing equation merely channels jury discretion providing criteria jury may determine whether life death appropriate system provides kind guided discretion sanctioned walton supra contrary marsh argument create general presumption favor death penalty life sentence must imposed state fails demonstrate existence aggravating circumstance beyond reasonable doubt state prove beyond reasonable doubt aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances jury unable reach unanimous decision respect marsh contentions equipoise determination reflects juror confusion inability decide life death jury may use equipoise loophole shirk constitutional duty render reasoned moral sentencing decision rest implausible characterization kansas statute jury determination aggravators mitigators equipoise decision much less decision death weighing end means reaching decision kansas instructions clearly inform jury determination evidence equipoise decision death pp reversed remanded thomas delivered opinion roberts scalia kennedy alito joined scalia filed concurring opinion stevens filed dissenting opinion souter filed dissenting opinion stevens ginsburg breyer joined kansas petitioner michael lee marsh ii writ certiorari kansas june justice thomas delivered opinion kansas law provides unanimous jury finds aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances death penalty shall imposed stat ann must decide whether statute requires imposition death penalty sentencing jury determines aggravating evidence mitigating evidence equipoise violates constitution hold respondent michael lee marsh ii broke home marry ane pusch lay wait return marry ane entered home daughter marsh repeatedly shot marry ane stabbed slashed throat home set fire toddler inside burned death jury convicted marsh capital murder premeditated murder marry ane aggravated arson aggravated burglary jury found beyond reasonable doubt existence three aggravating circumstances circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances basis findings jury sentenced marsh death capital murder jury also sentenced marsh life imprisonment without possibility parole years murder marry ane consecutive sentences months imprisonment aggravated arson months imprisonment aggravated burglary direct appeal marsh challenged reads unanimous vote jury finds beyond reasonable doubt one aggravating circumstances enumerated exist existence aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances found exist defendant shall sentenced death otherwise defendant shall sentenced provided law focusing phrase shall sentenced death marsh argued establishes unconstitutional presumption favor death directs imposition death penalty aggravating mitigating circumstances equipoise kansas agreed held kansas death penalty statute facially unconstitutional concluded statute weighing equation violated eighth fourteenth amendments constitution event equipoise jury determination balance aggravating circumstances mitigating circumstances weighed equal death penalty required kansas affirmed marsh conviction sentence aggravated burglary premeditated murder marry ane reversed remanded new trial marsh convictions capital murder aggravated granted certiorari reverse kansas judgment kansas capital sentencing statute stat ann facially unconstitutional ii addition granting certiorari review constitutionality kansas capital sentencing statute also directed parties brief argue whether jurisdiction review judgment kansas construed cox broadcasting cohn whether kansas judgment supported adequate state grounds independent federal law considered parties arguments conclude jurisdiction case constitutional issue properly title authorizes review writ certiorari final judgment highest state validity state statute questioned federal constitutional grounds determined foregoing authorization permits review judgment highest state even though proceedings yet complete federal claim finally decided proceedings merits state courts come later review federal issue whatever ultimate outcome case cox broadcasting supra although marsh retried capital murder aggravated arson charges kansas determination kansas death penalty statute facially unconstitutional final binding lower state courts thus state unable obtain review death penalty law later case marsh acquitted capital murder double jeopardy state law preclude state appealing reconvicted state prohibited kansas decision seeking death penalty opportunity state seek review prohibition although marsh argues provision kansas criminal appeals statute stat ann cum supp permit state appeal invalidation kansas death penalty statute contention meritless statute provides limited appeal four enumerated circumstances none apply deemed lower decisions final purposes like circumstances see florida meyers per curiam south dakota neville new york quarles kansas decision supported adequate independent state grounds marsh maintains kansas decision based severability state law constitutionality provision federal law latter issue resolved kansas state kleypas marsh argument fails kleypas rested federal law see rendering determination kansas observed kleypas held weighing equation written unconstitutional eighth fourteenth amendments applied cases aggravating evidence mitigating evidence equally balanced case kansas chastised kleypas avoiding constitutional issue statute facial validity squarely held unconstitutional face overruled portion kleypas upholding statute constitutional avoidance doctrine judicial revision kleypas kansas clearly rested decision eighth fourteenth amendments constitution therefore jurisdiction review decision see michigan long iii case controlled walton arizona overruled grounds ring arizona case jury convicted walton capital offense sentencing trial judge found existence two aggravating circumstances mitigating circumstances call leniency sentenced walton death arizona affirmed granted certiorari resolve conflict arizona decision state walton en banc holding arizona death penalty statute constitutional ninth circuit decision adamson ricketts en banc finding arizona death penalty statute unconstitutional situations mitigating aggravating circumstances balance mitigating circumstances give reservation still fall weight aggravating circumstances statute bars imposing sentence less death see walton consistent ninth circuit conclusion adamson walton argued arizona capital sentencing system created unconstitutional presumption favor death tells arizona sentencing judge finds even single aggravating factor death must imposed unless arizona put petitioner case mitigating factors brief petitioner walton arizona see also arguing statute unconstitutional defendant bear risk nonpersuasion mitigating circumstance outweigh aggravating alteration omitted rejecting walton argument see stated long state method allocating burdens proof lessen state burden prove every element offense charged case prove existence aggravating circumstances defendant constitutional rights violated placing burden proving mitigating circumstances sufficiently substantial call leniency noted requirement individualized sentencing jury must opportunity consider evidence relevant mitigation state statute permits jury consider mitigating evidence comports requirement citing blystone pennsylvania also pointedly observed constitution requires sentencing jury discretion mandate discretion unfettered free determine manner jury may consider mitigating evidence long sentencer precluded considering relevant mitigating evidence capital sentencing statute said impermissibly much less automatically impose death plurality opinion roberts louisiana plurality opinion indeed walton suggested capital sentencing systems impermissibly mandatory automatically impose death upon conviction certain types murder contrary marsh contentions kansas conclusions see question presented instant case squarely walton though marsh notes walton employ term equipoise issue undeniably gave rise question sought resolve necessarily included walton argument arizona system unconstitutional required death penalty unless mitigating circumstances outweighed aggravating circumstances see supra moreover dissent walton reinforces evident opinion judgment equipoise issue resolved issue favor state indeed equipoise issue large measure basis walton dissent see opinion blackmun mitigating aggravating circumstances equipoise arizona statute requires trial judge impose capital punishment assertion sentence death may imposed case runs directly counter eighth amendment requirement capital sentence must rest upon death appropriate punishment specific thus although walton discuss equipoise issue explicitly issue resolved holding cf post stevens dissenting cf also post souter dissenting conclusion walton controls reinforced fact arizona kansas statutes comparable important respects similar express language kansas statute arizona statute issue walton consistently construed mean death penalty imposed upon finding aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating see state ysea en banc state gretzler banc adamson like kansas statute arizona statute places burden proving existence aggravating circumstances state statutes require defendant proffer mitigating evidence statutes distinct one respect arizona statute state met burden tasks defendant burden proving sufficient mitigating circumstances overcome aggravating circumstances sentence less death therefore warranted contrast kansas statute requires state bear burden proving jury beyond reasonable doubt aggravators outweighed mitigators sentence death therefore appropriate places additional evidentiary burden capital defendant distinction operates favor kansas capital defendants otherwise statutes function substantially manner sufficiently analogous purposes thus walton distinguishable instant case accordingly reasoning walton requires approval kansas death penalty statute bottom walton held state death penalty statute may place burden defendant prove mitigating circumstances outweigh aggravating circumstances fortiori kansas death penalty statute consistent constitution may direct imposition death penalty state proved beyond reasonable doubt mitigators outweigh aggravators including aggravating circumstances mitigating circumstances equipoise iv even marsh contends walton directly control general principles set forth death penalty jurisprudence lead us conclude kansas capital sentencing system constitutionally permissible together decisions furman georgia per curiam gregg georgia joint opinion stewart powell stevens jj establish state capital sentencing system must rationally narrow class defendants permit jury render reasoned individualized sentencing determination based defendant record personal characteristics circumstances crime see long state system satisfies requirements precedents establish state enjoys range discretion imposing death penalty including manner aggravating mitigating circumstances weighed see franklin lynaugh plurality opinion citing zant stephens use mitigation evidence product requirement individualized sentencing see graham collins thomas concurring discussing development mitigation precedent lockett ohio plurality held eighth fourteenth amendments require sentencer precluded considering mitigating factor aspect defendant character record circumstances offense defendant proffers basis sentence less death emphasis original held sentencer must full access information alteration omitted quoting williams new york thus lockett struck ohio death penalty statute unconstitutional limiting jury consideration mitigation three factors specified statute prevented sentencers capital cases giving independent weight mitigating evidence militating favor sentence death majority held sentencer may categorically refuse consider relevant mitigating evidence see also skipper south carolina discussing eddings aggregate precedents confer upon defendants right present sentencers information relevant sentencing decision oblige sentencers consider information determining appropriate sentence thrust mitigation jurisprudence ends never held specific method balancing mitigating aggravating factors capital sentencing proceeding constitutionally required franklin supra citing zant supra rather held enjoy constitutionally permissible range discretion imposing death penalty blystone see also stating requirement individualized sentencing capital cases satisfied allowing jury consider relevant mitigating evidence graham supra thomas concurring stating ur early mitigating cases may thus read little safeguarding adversary process sentencing proceedings conferring defendant affirmative right place relevant evidence sentencer kansas death penalty statute satisfies constitutional mandates furman progeny rationally narrows class defendants permits jury consider mitigating evidence relevant sentencing determination interfere constitutionally significant way jury ability give independent weight evidence offered mitigation kansas procedure narrows universe defendants consistent eighth amendment requirements kansas law imposition death penalty option defendant convicted capital murder requires one specific elements beyond intentional premeditated murder found see stat ann convicted capital murder defendant becomes eligible death penalty state seeks separate sentencing hearing cum supp app instruction proves beyond reasonable doubt existence one statutorily enumerated aggravating circumstances stat ann app instruction consonant individualized sentencing requirement kansas jury permitted consider evidence relating mitigating circumstance determining appropriate sentence capital defendant long evidence relevant specifically jurors instructed mitigating circumstance fairness mercy may considered extenuating reducing degree moral culpability blame justify sentence less death although justify excuse offense determination mitigating circumstances jurors resolve facts circumstances case appropriateness exercise mercy mitigating factor may consider determining whether state proved beyond reasonable doubt death penalty warranted instruction jurors apprised limited factors defendant contends mitigating instructed ach juror must consider every mitigating factor individually finds exist kansas weighing equation ibid instruction merely channels jury discretion providing criteria may determine whether sentence life death appropriate system kansas provides type discretion walton citing gregg sanctioned walton boyde blystone indeed boyde sanctioned weighing jury instruction analytically indistinguishable kansas jury instruction review today boyde jury instruction read 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 original boyde argued mandatory language instruction prevented jury rendering individualized sentencing determination rejected argument concluding foreclosed blystone rejected nearly identical challenge pennsylvania death penalty statute holding noted mandatory language statute prevent jury considering relevant mitigating evidence boyde similarly prevent kansas jury considering mitigating evidence marsh argument kansas provision impermissibly mandatory likewise contrary marsh argument create general presumption favor death penalty state kansas rather kansas capital sentencing system dominated presumption life imprisonment appropriate sentence capital conviction state fails meet burden demonstrate existence aggravating circumstance beyond reasonable doubt sentence life imprisonment must imposed app instruction state overcomes hurdle bears additional burden proving beyond reasonable doubt aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances ibid instruction instruction significantly although defendant appropriately bears burden proffering mitigating circumstances burden production never bears burden demonstrating mitigating circumstances outweigh aggravating circumstances instead state always burden demonstrating mitigating evidence outweigh aggravating evidence absent state ability meet burden default life imprisonment moreover jury unable reach unanimous decision respect sentence life must imposed app instruction system create presumption death appropriate sentence capital force behind marsh contention equipoise determination reflects juror confusion inability decide life death jury may use equipoise loophole shirk constitutional duty render reasoned moral decision see california brown concurring regarding whether death appropriate sentence particular defendant argument rests implausible characterization kansas statute jury determination aggravators mitigators equipoise decision much less decision death thus misses mark cf post souter dissenting arguing kansas weighing equation undermines individualized sentencing weighing end merely means reaching decision decision jury must reach whether life death appropriate punishment kansas jury instructions clearly inform jury determination evidence equipoise decision presumption favor death kansas jurors presumed follow instructions made aware determination mitigators outweigh aggravators decision life sentence appropriate determination aggravators outweigh mitigators determination mitigators outweigh aggravators including finding aggravators mitigators balance decision death appropriate sentence inability reach unanimous decision result sentence life imprisonment informed far abdication duty inability select appropriate sentence depicted marsh justice souter jury conclusion aggravating evidence mitigating evidence equipoise decision death indicative type measured normative process jury constitutionally tasked engage deciding appropriate sentence capital defendant justice souter argues hereinafter dissent advent dna testing resulted exoneratio innocent persons numbers never imagined development dna tests post based upon new empirical demonstration different post dissent concludes kansas sentencing system permits imposition death penalty absence reasoned moral judgment availability dna testing questions might raise accuracy determinations capital cases simply irrelevant question today namely constitutionality kansas capital sentencing system accordingly accuracy dissent factual claim dna testing established innocence numerous convicted persons death sentences incendiary debate invokes beyond scope dissent general criticisms death penalty ultimately call resolving legal disputes capital cases adopting outcome makes death penalty difficult impose rule may easily applied basis law indeed logical consequence dissent argument death penalty system permit error criminal justice system operate perfectly abolition death penalty answer moral dilemma dissent poses however sit moral authority precedents prohibit authorizing death penalty even imperfect system precedents empower chip away prerogatives grounds dissent invokes today hold kansas capital sentencing system directs imposition death penalty jury finds aggravating mitigating circumstances equipoise constitutional accordingly reverse judgment kansas remand case proceedings inconsistent opinion ordered kansas petitioner michael lee marsh ii writ certiorari kansas june justice scalia concurring join opinion write separately clarify briefly import joinder respond somewhat greater length first justice stevens contention case cases like merit attention second justice souter claims risks inherent capital punishment part iii opinion makes plain walton arizona controls case sufficient reverse judgment nonetheless join part iv well describes kansas death penalty statute easily satisfies even capital jurisprudence incoherent become endorse incoherence adhere previous statement vote uphold eighth amendment claim sentencer discretion unlawfully restricted concurring part concurring judgment ii justice stevens dissent gives several reasons case criminal case state petitioner deserve rule law says grant certiorari post quoting california ramos stevens dissenting true course almost entire docket nature certiorari jurisdiction also since jurisdiction kansas ends borders state fact state required follow kansas precedent permitted stand post stevens dissenting quoting ramos supra stevens dissenting signaled impropriety granting certiorari never review determinations federal law even though patently contradict determination holdings state courts federal courts appeals compare case state kleypas state hoffman idaho jones dugger indeed even patently contradict decisions principal responsibility current practice however primary basis constitution allowing us accorded jurisdiction review decisions see art iii cls ensure integrity uniformity federal see rule fulfillment responsibility put mildly adequate answer charge othing interest facilitating imposition death penalty kansas justified exercise discretion review judgment kansas post stevens dissenting quoting ramos supra stevens dissenting dissent assertion holding ramos ironi post opinion stevens rests misguided view federalism worse still republican form government explain dissent suggestion ramos reversal determination somehow undermined state authority california ruled jury instruction inserted state penal code voter initiative see invalid matter federal constitutional law see state courts erroneously invalidate actions taken people state initiative normal operation political branches state government grounds generally none business displacing judgments indeed intrusion upon state autonomy state courts erroneously invalidate actions believe federal law requires especially believe federal constitution requires review far undermining state autonomy possible way vindicate federal constitutional interdict duly expressed people state erroneously pronounced state highest authority state even referendum agreed citizens undo error thus general presumption review displays respect complacent willingness allow judges strip people power govern correct state federal errors return power state people decision ramos necessary solemn responsibility merely determine whether state ha adequately protected defendant rights federal constitution post stevens dissenting ensure courts speak name federal constitution disregard none guarantees neither assure rights criminal defendants assure justice black famous dissent winship called fundamental individual liberty people right man participate society turning blind eye federal constitutional error benefits criminal defendants allowing permeate varying fashion state jurisprudence change uniform law land crazy quilt top course dissent proposes avowedly favors one party case criminal defendant loses questionable constitutional point may grant review state loses must deny might appropriate congress place thumb upon scales power review seems peculiar mode decisionmaking judges sworn impartially discharge duties office decision grant certiorari guided considerations set forth rule none turns identity party asserted misapplication federal law harmed state legislation thwarted basis state law basis questionable application federal constitution laws shall continue vote grant resulting petition certiorari iii finally must say words indeed response part iii justice souter dissent contains disclaimer dissenters yet ready generaliz soundness capital sentencing across country post fact precisely dissent essentially argues capital punishment undesirable institution results condemnation large number innocents legal rule eliminates pronouncement including one favored dissenters present case embraced see ibid general rule think appropriate judges heap either praise censure upon legislative measure comes lest thought validation invalidation interpretation driven desire expand constrict personally approve disapprove matter policy present case example people might leap conclusion dissenters views whether kansas equipoise rule constitutional determined personal disapproval institution democratically adopted course requires leap willingness take dissenters word described dissenters argument imposition death penalty minimized invalidation equipoise rule bad risk hazard ous idea ibid broader conclusion people derive however consider much leap either dissenters encumbering death penalty cases unwarranted restrictions neither contained text constitution reflected two centuries practice product policy views views shared vast majority american people dissenters proclamation policy agenda present case especially striking nailed door wrong church set forth case litigating rule nothing evaluation guilt innocence course many cases rule issue serve function see house bell marsh earned remand application one rule see ante observes see ante guilt innocence logically disconnected challenge case sentencing standards time equipoise provision relevant state proved defendant guilty capital exists parts world sanctimonious criticism america death penalty somehow unworthy civilized society say sanctimonious countries belong death penalty recently indeed many still democratic certainty opinion effect system condemns many innocent defendants death trumpeted abroad vindication criticisms reason take trouble point dissenting opinion nothing substantial support noted outset dissent discuss single case one clear person executed crime commit event occurred recent years hunt innocent name shouted rooftops abolition lobby dissent makes much capacity dna testing establish innocence every case executed defendant aware technology confirmed guilt happened instance months ago case roger coleman coleman convicted gruesome rape murder persuaded many actually innocent became abolitionist lobby see glod shear dna tests confirm guilt man executed washington post dao dna ties man executed murder denied times around time eventual execution picture cover time magazine man might innocent man due die interviewed death row king live show live morning america phil donahue show frankel burden proof washington post may pp even one justice opinion filed shortly execution cautioned coleman produced substantial evidence may innocent crime sentenced die coleman thompson blackmun dissenting coleman ultimately failed test offered governor virginia condition possible stay executed may frankel supra glod shear warner orders dna testing case man executed washington post pp years since coleman case became rallying point abolitionists hoped offer consider holy grail proof test tube innocent person executed frankel supra earlier year dna test ordered later governor virginia proved coleman guilty see glod shear dna tests confirm guilt man executed supra dao supra even though defense team proved innocence even identified real killer eventually settled defamation suit see frankel supra coleman case unique see truth consequences penalty death debating death penalty america capital punishment experts sides make best case bedau cassell eds discussing cases supposed innocents rick mcginn derek barnabei whose guilt also confirmed dna tests instead identifying discussing particular case cases mistaken execution dissent simply cites handful studies bemoan alleged prevalence wrongful death sentences one study lanier acker quoted dissent claiming death row prisoners released since upon findings innocent crimes charged additional wrongful convictions potentially capital cases documented past century post opinion souter first point lanier acker cite work death penalty information center article law review jointly authored radelet lofquist bedau two professors sociology professor philosophy second point cite article bedau radelet see miscarriages justice potentially capital cases stan rev paragraph dissent quotes lanier acker also refer article hav ing identified individuals judgment convicted executed country century notwithstanding innocence lanier acker capital punishment moratorium movement empirical questions psychology public policy law article highly influential abolitionist world hundreds academic articles including relied today dissent cited also makes appearance judicial decisions cited recently dissent house bell en banc merritt dissenting proposition system allowing innocent defendants executed article therefore warrants observations article obsolescence began moment publication recent executions considered rest predate allied victory world war ii two supposed innocents sacco vanzetti bedau radelet supra even innocence claims made study true except perhaps example cast light upon functioning current system capital adjudication legal community general attitude toward criminal defendants legal protections afford constitutional guarantees enforces scope federal habeas review vastly different scientific means establishing guilt hence innocence striking operation effect subject one popular tv series one new means course dna testing dissent seems think primarily way identify defendants erroneously convicted rather highly effective way avoid conviction innocent current relevance aside study conclusions unverified support significant conclusion execution innocents century indication accuracy neither study careless rely upon worthy credence execution innocent man alleges occurred restoration death penalty florida execution james adams easiest case verify evidence adams innocence describes hair clutched victim hand bedau radelet supra hair victim hand remnant sweeping ambulance come another source markman cassell protecting innocent response study stan rev study also claims witness heard voice inside victim home time crime testified voice woman bedau radelet supra witness actual testimony voice said name god hence unlikely voice anyone male victim kind like woman voice kind like strangling something markman cassell protecting innocent bedau radelet failed mention upon arrest afternoon murder adams found pocket one bill stained type blood adams asked blood money said came cut finger blood type ab however victim type among unmentioned incriminating details victim eyeglasses found adams car along jewelry belonging victim clothing adams stained type blood ibid sample evidence arrayed innocent see critics questioned study findings regard cases execution alleged innocents appellate opinions set forth facts proved trial detail sufficient permit neutral observer assess validity authors conclusions rest reasonably complete account facts readily available cases readily verifiable ones authors study later acknowledged agree critics executed defendants innocent never claimed bedau radelet myth infallibility reply markman cassell stan rev one hoped disclaimer study striking conclusion study dubious methodology prevented cited authority pages reports alas late although today dissent relies study indirectly two dissenters january already embraced one impressive study noted referring study concluded innocent people executed century including one recently herrera collins blackmun joined stevens souter dissenting remarkably avoiding claim erroneous executions dissent focuses large numbers exonerees paraded various professors speaks though exoneration came operation outside force correct mistakes legal system rather consequence functioning legal system reversal erroneous conviction appeal habeas pardoning innocent condemnee executive clemency demonstrates failure system success devices part parcel multiple assurances applied death sentence carried course even identifying exonerees dissent willing accept anybody engages critical review merely parrots articles reports support attack american criminal justice system dissent places significant weight instance illinois report compiled appointees illinois governor declared moratorium upon death penalty eventually commuted death sentences state see warden illinois death penalty reform happened promises crim claims shows false verdicts remarkable number post opinion souter dissent claims report identifies inmates released death row determined innocent take one cases discussed dissent example judgment close innocence judgments courts normally render post people smith defendant twice convicted murder first trial illinois reversed conviction based upon certain evidentiary errors remanded case new trial second jury convicted smith illinois reversed conviction found evidence insufficient establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt explained guilty finding sometimes equated finding innocence conclusion erroneous courts find people guilty innocent guilty verdict expresses view defendant innocence rather reversal conviction indicates simply prosecution failed meet burden proof case alone suffices refute dissent claim illinois report distinguishes exoneration convict actual innocence reversal judgment legal error affecting conviction sentence inconsistent guilt fact post broader point however utterly impossible regard exoneration however casually defined failure capital justice system rather vindication effectiveness releasing defendants innocent whose guilt established beyond reasonable doubt another dissent leading authorities exoneration innocent gross jacoby matheson montgomery patil exonerations crim hereinafter gross dissent quotes study criteria exoneration seemingly rigorous one doubt study reliability see post opinion souter fact article like others cited notable rigorous investigation analysis fervor belief american justice system condemning innocent numbers dissent puts never imagined development dna tests post opinion souter among article list exonerees gross jay smith pennsylvania smith school principal earned three death sentences slaying one teachers two young children see smith holtz retrial triple murder barred double jeopardy grounds prosecutorial misconduct first trial smith leave well enough alone gall sue false imprisonment appeals third circuit affirmed jury verdict defendants observing along way confidence smith convictions diminished least remain firmly convinced integrity guilty verdicts another exonerated murderer gross study jeremy sheets convicted nebraska accomplice rape murder girl secretly tape recorded admitted drove car used murder implicated sheets murder sheets butera accomplice arrested eventually described murder greater detail plea agreement arranged conditioned accomplice full cooperation ibid resulting taped confession implicated sheets crucial portion state case state sheets neb accomplice committed suicide jail depriving sheets opportunity nebraska held rendered evidence inadmissible sixth amendment central evidence excluded state retry sheets sheets butera sheets brought claim appeals eighth circuit affirmed district grant summary judgment sheets also sought required pay nebraska victim compensation fund state attorney general far concluding sheets exonerated entitled money refused return action left open possibility sheets retried attorney general believe reversal ground improper admission evidence favorable disposition charges neb op atty wl inflation word exoneration gross article hardly stands alone mischaracterization reversible error actual innocence endemic abolitionist rhetoric prominent catalogues innocence context suffer defect perhaps list freed death row maintained death penalty information center see http includes cases gross article described also enters dubious candidates delbert tibbs one considered case tibbs florida concluding double jeopardy clause bar retrial conviction revers ed based weight rather sufficiency evidence case involved man woman hitchhiking together florida driver picked sodomized raped woman killed boyfriend eventually escaped positively identified tibbs see florida reversed conviction vote florida courts grappled whether tibbs retried without violating double jeopardy clause florida determined problem per curiam basis reversed conviction longer valid law action reweigh ing evidence tibbs case clearly improper affirmed florida however state felt compelled drop charges state attorney explained florida commission capital cases time retrial progressed marijuana smoker crack user put stand declined prosecute tibbs opinion never innocent man wrongfully accused lucky human guilty lucky free conviction miscarriage justice florida commission capital cases case histories review individuals released death row rev http state officials involved made similar points course even distorted concept constitutes exoneration claims gross article fairly modest authors identify exonerations nationwide capital cases mind even murder convictions various felonies gross joshua marquis district attorney oregon recently responded article follows et give professor benefit doubt let assume understated number innocents roughly factor instead people prison involved crime way years million felony convictions across country make error rate percent put another way success rate percent innocent shammed times dissent suggestion capital defendants especially liable suffer lack perfection criminal justice system implausible capital cases given especially close scrutiny every level cases many years elapse sentence executed course capital cases receive special attention application executive clemency indeed one arguments made abolitionists process finally completing appeals reexaminations capital sentences lengthy thus expensive state game worth candle proof pudding course far anyone determine many looking none cases included error rate american verdicts involved capital defendant erroneously executed since approximately half million murders time murderers sentenced death executed inmates currently death row see marquis myth innocence crim consequence sensitivity criminal justice system rights defendants sentenced death almost death sentences overturned see ibid virtually none reversals however attributable defendant innocence ibid based legal errors little nothing guilt see studies cited dissent demonstrate nothing like human institutions courts juries perfect one system criminal punishment without accepting possibility someone punished mistakenly truism revelation regard punishment death current american system possibility reduced insignificant minimum explains ideologically driven ferret proclaim mistaken modern execution single verifiable case point whereas easy pie identify plainly guilty murderers set free american people determined good derived capital punishment deterrence perhaps meting condign justice horrible crimes outweighs risk error proper part business justices judgment much less impugn world less still frustrate imposing judicially invented obstacles execution kansas petitioner michael lee marsh ii writ certiorari kansas june justice stevens dissenting joined justice blackmun dissent plurality opinion walton arizona necessarily also subscribe views expressed justice souter today write separately two reasons explain agreement justice blackmun dissent fully consistent refusing read walton control ling see ante opinion explain grant certiorari case misuse discretion justice blackmun understanding arizona law walton present exactly issue us today arizona statute issue required judge impose death upon finding aggravating factors mitigating circumstances sufficiently substantial call leniency quoting rev stat ann west justice blackmun view arizona case law indicated defendant mitigating evidence deemed substantial call leniency mitigating factors aggravation accordingly justice blackmun believed confronted constitutionality statute mandated death scales evenly balanced ibid justice blackmun never concluded plurality similarly read arizona case law requir ing capital sentence case aggravating mitigating circumstances evenly balanced contrary observed plurality even acknowledge dispositive question ibid justice blackmun read plurality opinion confronting problem equipoise believed arizona law present join dissent consistent conclusion stare decisis bind us today justice souter explains post walton plurality painstakingly avoided express endorsement rule allows prosecutor argue allows judge instruct jury scales evenly balanced choice life death law requires severe penalty difference case walton one kept us granting certiorari first place walton defendant petitioned certiorari grant enabled us consider whether arizona adequately protected rights federal constitution case contrast state kansas petitioned us review ruling grounds kansas granted protection kansas litigant federal constitution required policy judicial restraint allow highest state final decisionmaker case kind see brigham city stuart stevens concurring slip remarkable similarity decision grant certiorari case comparable decision california ramos ramos reviewed decision california invalidated standard jury instruction concerning governor power commute life without parole sentences instruction unique california vote reversed judgment state concluding somewhat ironically wisdom decision permit juror consideration possible commutation best left response asked today harm done administration justice state courts kansas left undisturbed determination true instruction may make difference life death case scales otherwise evenly balanced reason instruction given reason giving ibid matter trivial impact instruction may fundamentally wrong presiding judge trial personify evenhanded administration justice tell jury indirectly sure doubt concerning proper penalty resolved favor death ibid ramos case rule law commanded grant certiorari furthermore state required follow kansas precedent permitted stand nothing interest facilitating imposition death penalty kansas justified exercise discretion review judgment kansas ibid hat interest opinion sufficient warrant review validity jury instruction wisdom giving instruction plainly matter best left ibid decided ramos day michigan long prior time virtually interest criminal cases sought set aside rulings courts stevens dissenting although recent years trend otherwise continue hope future recognize error allocation resources return older better practice restraint kansas petitioner michael lee marsh ii writ certiorari kansas june justice souter justice stevens justice ginsburg justice breyer join dissenting kansas capital sentencing statute provides defendant shall sentenced death unanimous vote jury finds beyond reasonable doubt one aggravating circumstances exist existence aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances found exist stat ann kansas read provision require imposition death penalty event equipoise jury determination balance aggravating circumstances mitigating circumstances weighed equal case see also state kleypas stating language provides doubtful cases jury must return sentence death given construction state held law unconstitutional ground eighth amendment requires defendant life death issue ibid agree kansas judges constitution forbids mandatory death penalty describe doubtful cases aggravating mitigating factors equal weight respectfully ii years ago explained eighth amendment guarantee cruel unusual punishment barred imposition death penalty statutory schemes inarticulate sentencing discretion produced wanton freakish results see furman georgia per curiam stewart concurring eighth fourteenth amendments tolerate infliction sentence death legal systems permit unique penalty wantonly freakishly imposed capriciously selected random handful individuals constitution held require instead system structured produce reliable woodson north carolina plurality opinion rational jurek texas joint opinion stewart powell stevens jj rationally reviewable woodson supra determinations sentence decades legislative experiment judicial review made plain constitutional demand rationality goes beyond minimal requirement replace unbounded discretion sentencing structure state much leeway devising structure selecting terms measuring relative culpability system must meet ultimate test constitutional reliability producing reasoned moral response defendant background character crime penry lynaugh quoting california brown concurring emphasis deleted cf gregg georgia joint opinion stewart powell stevens jj sanctioning sentencing procedures focus jury attention particularized nature crime particularized characteristics individual defendant eighth amendment demands form substance system decision one geared produce morally justifiable results state thinks scheme beyond questioning whether form substance sees law equivalent provisions examined blystone pennsylvania boyde california approved statutes required death sentence upon jury finding aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating ones crucial fact systems predominance aggravators recognition moral rationality mandatory capital sentence based finding authority giving free rein select different conclusion dictate death instead constitutional demand reasoned moral response requires state statute satisfy two criteria speak issue us one governing character sentencing evidence one going substantive justification needed death sentence first obligation case inform jury choice sentence evidence crime actually committed specific individual committed see spaziano florida since sentencing choice definition attribution particular culpability criminal act defendant distinct general culpability necessarily implicated committing given offense see penry supra spaziano supra zant stephens sentencing decision must turn uniqueness individual defendant details crime resulting choice death must directly related penry supra second point particulars crime criminal relevant within category capital crimes death penalty must reserved worst worst see roper simmons capital punishment must limited offenders commit narrow category serious crimes whose extreme culpability makes deserving quoting atkins virginia one object structured sentencing proceeding required aftermath furman eliminate risk death sentence imposed spite facts calling lesser penalty penry supra essence sentencing authority responsibility determine whether response crime defendant must death spaziano supra cf gregg supra joint opinion stewart powell stevens course moral world reject capital punishment principle death sentence never moral imperative point however within legal moral system allows place death penalty must death mean may death since valid capital sentence thus requires choice based upon unique particulars identifying crime perpetrator heinous point demanding death even within class potentially capital offenses state provision tie breaker favor death fails counts dispositive fact tie breaker details crime unique identity individual defendant determining fact directly linked particular crime particular criminal law operates merely jury finding equipoise state selected considerations death tie breaker identify worst worst even purport reflect evidentiary showing death must reasoned moral response opposite statute produces death sentence exactly sentencing impasse demonstrates matter law jury see evidence showing worst sort crime committed worst sort criminal combination heinous enough demand death operates jury applied state chosen standards culpability mitigation reached nothing kansas calls tie kleypas internal quotation marks omitted mandates death identifies doubtful cases ibid statute thus addresses risk morally unjustifiable death sentence minimizing precedent unmistakably requires guaranteeing equipoise cases risk realized placing death side scale sochor florida quoting stringer black alteration original kansas jury applies state standards relative culpability decide defendant among culpable state law says equivocal evidence good enough defendant must die law requires execution case aggravation failed convince sentencing jury morally absurd holding constitution tolerates moral irrationality defies decades precedent aimed eliminating freakish capital sentencing iii precedent demanding reasoned moral judgment developed response facts ignored kaleidoscope life death verdicts made sense fact morality random sentencing furman decided see stewart concurring today new body fact must accounted deciding practical terms eighth amendment guarantees tolerate period starting seen repeated exonerations convicts death sentences numbers never imagined development dna tests face facts still hold guarantee morally justifiable sentencing hollow enough allow maximizing death sentences requiring juries fail find worst degree culpability state standards state characterization case death doubtful numbers growing literature give sense reality must addressed governor illinois imposed moratorium executions prisoners death sentences released since number shown innocent described report used examples illustrate theme common relatively little solid evidence connecting charged defendants crimes state illinois ryan governor report governor commission capital punishment recommendations apr hereinafter report see also period condemned convicts executed subsequently governor determined death row inmates innocent see warden illinois death penalty reform crim illinois thus wrongly convicted condemned even capital defendants executed may well otherwise unique one recent study reports american prisoners condemned death exonerated gross jacoby matheson montgomery patil exonerations crim hereinafter gross many cleared dna evidence another report death row prisoners released since upon findings innocent crimes charged undreds additional wrongful convictions potentially capital cases documented past century lanier acker capital punishment moratorium movement empirical questions psychology public policy law wrongful convictions sentences resulted eyewitness misidentification false confession frequently perjury gross total shows among prosecutions homicide cases suffer unusually high incidence false conviction probably owing combined difficulty investigating without help victim intense pressure get convictions homicide cases corresponding incentive guilty frame innocent thus period new empirical argument death different gregg joint opinion stewart powell stevens jj false verdicts defy correction fatal moment illinois experience shows remarkable number probably disproportionately high capital cases far soon generalization soundness capital sentencing across country cautionary lesson recent experience addresses potential kansas statute risks falsity infect proof guilt raise questions sentences circumstances crime aggravating factors bear predictions future dangerousness face evidence hazards capital prosecution maintaining sentencing system mandating death sentencer finds evidence pro con equipoise obtuse moral social measure unless application eighth amendment longer calls reasoned moral judgment substance well form kansas law unconstitutional footnotes kansas found trial committed reversible error excluding circumstantial evidence guilt connecting eric pusch marry ane husband crimes accordingly ordered new trial ground rev stat ann supp provides determining whether impose sentence death life imprisonment trier fact shall take account aggravating mitigating circumstances proven trier fact shall impose sentence death trier fact finds one aggravating circumstances enumerated subsection section determines mitigating circumstances sufficiently substantial call leniency mercy jury instruction alone forecloses possibility error eliminate risk death sentence imposed spite facts calling lesser penalty post souter dissenting blystone pennsylvania statute authorized imposition death sentence jury concluded aggravating circumstances outweigh ed mitigating circumstances present particular crime committed particular defendant mitigating circumstances contrary justice souter assertion decisions boyde blystone turn predominance aggravators cases post dissenting rather decisions plainly turned fact mandatory language respective statutes prevent sentencing jury consider ing giv ing effect relevant mitigating evidence blystone supra see also boyde roberts louisiana eath automatically imposed upon conviction certain types murder additionally marsh argument turns reading isolation reading however contrary proposition single instruction jury may judged artificial isolation must viewed context overall charge boyde california citing boyd constitutionality state death penalty system turns review system context thus reject disengaged interpretation see penalty death debating death penalty america capital punishment experts sides make best case bedau cassell eds see also comment protecting innocent response study stan rev examining accuracy use term innocent death penalty studies literature marquis myth innocence crim ords like convey enormous moral authority intended drive public debate appealing deep universal revulsion idea someone genuinely blameless wrongly suffer crime involvement people smith hile guilty finding sometimes equated finding innocence conclusion erroneous rather reversal conviction indicates simply prosecution failed meet burden proof footnotes dissent observes congress initially grant us full jurisdiction constitution authorizes allowed us review cases rejecting assertion governing federal law see post opinion stevens unsurprising immaterial original constitution contained guarantees individual rights clashes governmental authority small risk state courts erroneously side new federal government first judiciary act passed bill rights yet adopted apply see barron ex rel tiernan mayor baltimore pet congress unlikely contemplate state courts erroneously invalidate state actions federal grounds early history jurisdiction assuredly support dissent awarding special preference constitutional rights criminal defendants even respect federal defendants enjoy protections bill rights first years existence provision made congress review federal criminal convictions omission congress remedy beyond stern gressman shapiro geller practice ed case present law plain statute cited dissent forming basis current certiorari jurisdiction places defendants precisely position entitled petition review dissent views erroneous imposition death penalty irrelevant present case dissent proposed holding equipoise issue necessarily work defendants advantage equipoise provision kansas statute imposes death penalty state proves beyond reasonable doubt mitigating factors outweigh aggravators see ante disallow kansas scheme state marsh freely admits replace scheme requiring state prove mere preponderance evidence aggravators outweigh mitigators see tr oral rearg doubt defense counsel accept trade preponderance rule sounds better almost surely produce death sentences equipoise beyond reasonable doubt requirement commonly recognized european countries abolished death penalty spite public opinion rather bibas transparency participation criminal procedure rev see also abolishing death penalty made condition joining council europe turn condition obtaining economic benefits joining european union see waters mediating norms identity role transnational judicial dialogue creating enforcing international law geo demleitner future leniency criminal justice system rev european union advocates even america separate page website delegation european commission see http visited june available clerk case file views european union relied upon justices including four dissenters today narrowing power american people impose capital punishment see atkins virginia citing views world community brief european union amicus curiae see also callins collins blackmun dissenting denial certiorari innocent persons executed see bedau radelet miscarriages justice potentially capital cases stan rev perhaps recently see herrera collins continue executed death penalty scheme footnotes justice scalia takes issue approach suggesting federal interests vindicated review equally weighty whether state found defendant state ante concurring opinion overlooks separate federal interest ensuring person convicted sentenced violation federal constitution interest entirely absent state petitioner appropriate certainly impartial see ante take difference federal interests account considering whether grant petition writ certiorari justice scalia also fails explain urgent need ensure integrity uniformity federal law ante perceived need primary basis constitution allowing us accorded jurisdiction review decisions ibid citing art iii cls one think first judiciary act given us jurisdiction review decisions based federal constitution coming state courts unconcerned justice scalia crazy quilt ante first congress provided us jurisdiction cases drawn question validity statute authority exercised state ground repugnant constitution treaties laws decision favour validity act stat emphasis added jurisdiction decisions state courts arguably overprotected federal constitutional rights expense state laws act ch stat see also delaware van arsdall stevens dissenting even review writ certiorari whereas defendants right appeal us cases state courts upheld validity state statutes challenged federal constitutional grounds see words entire period laws enacted congress placed greater weight vindication federal rights interest uniformity federal law footnotes majority views walton arizona decided issue walton ambiguous point approved arizona practice placing burden capital defendants prove preponderance evidence existence mitigating circumstances sufficiently substantial call leniency plurality opinion quantify phrase sufficiently substantial justice blackmun clearly thought otherwise see dissenting opinion cried greater foul one get majority opinion stare decisis control case illinois report emphasizes difference exoneration convict actual innocence reversal judgment legal error affecting conviction sentence inconsistent guilt fact see report noting apart released men broader review discloses half state death penalty cases reversed point process importantly takes cursory reading report recognize describes men released demonstrably innocent convicted grossly unreliable evidence one report notes two persons subsequently convicted wisconsin murders two others report released dna tests revealed none source semen found victim year two men confessed crime pleaded guilty sentenced life prison third tried convicted crime ibid yet another report says another man subsequently confessed crime released man convicted entered plea guilty currently serving prison term crime number subject judgments close innocence judgments courts normally render case one released men illinois found evidence insufficient support conviction see people smith several others obtained acquittals still simply charges dropped receiving orders new trials least released initiative executive reasonably assume state obligation release public person valid conviction sentence unless certain beyond doubt person custody perpetrator crime reason state forgo even judicial forum defendants demonstrate grounds vacating convictions matter common sense evidence going innocence conclusive authors state criteria study use term official act declaring defendant guilty crime previously convicted exonerations studied occurred four ways cases governors appropriate executive officers issued pardons based evidence defendants innocence cases criminal charges dismissed courts new evidence innocence emerged dna cases defendants acquitted retrial basis evidence role crimes originally convicted four cases posthumously acknowledged innocence defendants already died prison gross omitted authors exclude list exonerations case dismissal acquittal appears based decision defendant guilty charges original conviction play role crime may guilty lesser crime based conduct purposes defendant acquitted murder retrial convicted involuntary manslaughter exonerated also excluded case dismissal entered absence strong evidence factual innocence despite evidence unexplained physical evidence defendant guilt