morgan illinois argued january decided june trial capital offense illinois conducted two phases jury determining defendant guilt whether death penalty imposed accordance state law trial conducted voir dire select jury petitioner morgan capital murder trial state requested pursuant witherspoon illinois ask jurors whether automatically vote death penalty matter facts case however refused morgan request ask jurors automatically vote impose death penalty regardless facts stating asked substantially question fact every empaneled juror asked generally whether fair impartial asked whether follow instructions law morgan convicted sentenced death state affirmed ruling trial required include voir dire life qualifying question upon request held trial refusal inquire whether potential jurors automatically impose death penalty upon convicting morgan inconsistent due process clause fourteenth amendment pp due process demands jury provided capital defendant sentencing phase must stand impartial indifferent extent commanded sixth amendment see pp based impartiality requirement capital defendant may challenge cause prospective juror automatically vote death penalty juror fail good faith consider evidence aggravating mitigating circumstances instructions require wainwright witt pp voir dire trial must defendant request inquire prospective jurors views capital punishment part guarantee defendant right impartial jury adequate voir dire identify unqualified jurors morgan exercise intelligently challenge cause prospective jurors unwaveringly impose death finding guilt unless given opportunity identify persons questioning voir dire views death penalty cf lockhart mccree absent opportunity right tried always impose death rendered nugatory meaningless state right absence questioning strike never pp trial voir dire insufficient satisfy morgan right make inquiry state request questioning witherspoon witt belies argument general fairness follow law questions asked trial enough detect venire automatically impose death jurors truth candor respond affirmatively types questions personally confident dogmatic views fair impartial leaving specific concern unprobed importantly belief death imposed ipso facto upon conviction reflects directly individual inability follow law pp juror mitigating evidence irrelevant plainly saying evidence worth consideration view long rejected finds basis illinois statutory decisional law instruction accords state death penalty statute requires jury instructed consider relevant aggravating mitigating factors lists certain relevant mitigating factors directs jury consider whether mitigating factors sufficient preclude death penalty imposition since statute plainly indicates lesser sentence available every case mitigating evidence exists juror invariably impose death penalty give mitigating evidence consideration statute contemplates pp white delivered opinion blackmun stevens kennedy souter joined scalia filed dissenting opinion rehnquist thomas joined allen andrews iii argued cause filed briefs petitioner kenneth gillis argued cause respondent brief roland burris attorney general illinois terence madsen assistant attorney general jack randall roberts sally dilgart william carroll marie quinlivan czech briefs amici curiae urging reversal filed american civil liberties union et al robert graham laura kaster harvey grossman john powell steven shapiro diann national association criminal defense lawyers andrea lyon justice white delivered opinion decide whether voir dire capital offense state trial may consistent due process clause fourteenth amendment refuse inquiry whether potential juror automatically impose death penalty upon conviction defendant trial capital offense illinois conducted two phases defendant must first convicted murder defined ch supp illinois law uses jury decided guilt determine whether death penalty shall imposed upon conviction separate sentencing hearing commences determine existence aggravating mitigating factors eligible death penalty jury must find unanimously beyond reasonable doubt defendant least years old time murder least enumerated aggravating factors exists see murder hire contract premeditated murder preconceived plan jury finds none statutory aggravating factors exist defendant sentenced term imprisonment unanimous finding jury one factors set forth subsection exist jury shall consider aggravating mitigating factors instructed shall determine whether sentence death shall imposed ibid part balance jury instructed consider mitigating factors existing case five enumerated exclusive state may also present evidence relevant aggravating factors beyond enumerated statute ibid jury determines unanimously mitigating factors sufficient preclude imposition death sentence shall sentence defendant death petitioner derrick morgan convicted cook county illinois murder sentenced death evidence trial amply proved petitioner hired kill narcotics dealer apparently competing el rukns one chicago violent gangs petitioner lured dealer friend abandoned apartment shot head six times upon consideration factors aggravation mitigation jury sentenced death three separate venires required called jury finally chosen accordance illinois law trial rather attorneys conducted voir dire people gacy state elected pursue capital punishment requested inquiry permitted witherspoon illinois determine whether potential juror instances refuse impose death penalty upon conviction offense accordingly trial opposition defense questioned venire whether member moral religious principles strong impose death penalty regardless facts app seventeen potential jurors excused expressed substantial doubts ability follow illinois law deciding whether impose sentence death jurors eventually empaneled also questioned individually witherspoon receiving responding negative question slight variation automatically vote death penalty matter facts case see seven members first venire questioned including three eventually became jurors petitioner counsel requested trial ask prospective jurors following question found derrick morgan guilty automatically vote impose death penalty matter facts trial refused request stating asked question different vein substantially nature ibid prior voir dire three venires trial explained general terms dictates illinois procedure capital trials outlined see voir dire trial received jurors empaneled affirmative response variations question follow instructions law even though may agree see however trial ask three jurors question way see every juror eventually empaneled asked generally whether fair impartial juror responded appropriately least one questions variation know reason fair impartial see feel give sides fair trial see empaneled member jury swore oath well truly try issues joined herein true deliverance make people state illinois defendant bar true verdict render according law evidence tr see appeal illinois affirmed petitioner conviction death sentence rejecting petitioner claim pursuant ross oklahoma voir dire must include life qualifying question upon request illinois concluded nothing requires trial question potential jurors identify exclude vote death penalty every case conviction capital offense also found violation ross concluding instead petitioner jury selected fair community juror swore uphold law regardless personal feelings juror expressed views call impartiality question granted certiorari considerable disagreement among state courts last resort question issue case reverse judgment illinois ii emphasized previously one right way state set capital sentencing scheme spaziano florida citations omitted state constitutionally required sixth amendment otherwise provide jury determination whether death penalty shall imposed capital defendant ibid illinois chosen however delegate jury task penalty phase capital trials addition duty determine guilt innocence underlying crime issue therefore whether petitioner entitled relief due process clause fourteenth amendment conclude course deal four issues whether jury provided capital defendant sentencing phase must impartial whether defendant entitled challenge cause removed ground bias prospective juror automatically vote death penalty irrespective facts trial instructions law whether voir dire must defendant request inquire prospective jurors views capital punishment whether voir dire case constitutionally sufficient duncan louisiana held fourteenth amendment guaranteed right jury trial state criminal cases tried federal come within sixth amendment guarantee trial jury prior decision applying sixth amendment jury trial provision recognized irvin dowd turner louisiana fourteenth amendment due process clause independently required impartiality jury empaneled try cause although said fourteenth amendment demand use jury trials state criminal procedure fay new york palko connecticut every state constitutionally provided trial jury see columbia university legislative drafting research fund index digest state constitutions essence right jury trial guarantees criminally accused fair trial panel impartial indifferent jurors failure accord accused fair hearing violates even minimal standards due process oliver tumey ohio fair trial fair tribunal basic requirement due process murchison ultimate analysis jury strip man liberty life language lord coke juror must indifferent stands unsworne litt verdict must based upon evidence developed trial cf thompson city louisville true regardless heinousness crime charged apparent guilt offender station life occupies written law early chief justice marshall burr trial theory law juror formed opinion impartial reynolds irvin dowd supra omitted thus decisions dealing capital sentencing juries presenting issues analogous decide today witherspoon illinois adams texas wainwright witt ross oklahoma relied strictures dictated sixth fourteenth amendments ensure impartiality jury undertake capital sentencing see also turner murray plurality opinion witt held proper standard determining prospective juror may excluded cause views capital punishment whether juror views prevent substantially impair performance duties juror accordance instructions oath quoting adams texas standard clear witt adams progeny witherspoon juror case vote capital punishment regardless instructions impartial juror must removed cause thereafter ross oklahoma supra state trial refused remove cause juror declared vote impose death automatically jury found defendant guilty juror however removed defendant use peremptory challenge reason death sentence affirmed course reaching result announced considered view constitution guarantees defendant trial life right impartial jury trial failure remove juror cause constitutional error standard enunciated witt emphasized ad juror sat jury ultimately sentenced petitioner death petitioner properly preserved right challenge trial failure remove juror cause sentence overturned citing adams supra reiterate view today juror automatically vote death penalty every case fail good faith consider evidence aggravating mitigating circumstances instructions require indeed juror already formed opinion merits presence absence either aggravating mitigating circumstances entirely irrelevant juror therefore based requirement impartiality embodied due process clause fourteenth amendment capital defendant may challenge cause prospective juror maintains views even one juror empaneled death sentence imposed state disentitled execute sentence illinois fact raises challenge foregoing precepts argues instead trial discretion may refuse direct inquiry matter long questioning purports assure defendant fair impartial jury able follow law true oir dire conducted supervision great deal must necessity left sound discretion ristaino ross quoting connors constitution dictate catechism voir dire defendant afforded impartial jury even part guaranty defendant right impartial jury adequate voir dire identify unqualified jurors dennis morford voir dire plays critical function assuring criminal defendant constitutional right impartial jury honored without adequate voir dire trial judge responsibility remove prospective jurors able impartially follow instructions evaluate evidence fulfilled plurality opinion hence exercise trial discretion restriction upon inquiries request counsel subject essential demands fairness aldridge adequacy voir dire easily subject appellate review supra hesitated particularly capital cases find certain inquiries must made effectuate constitutional protections see turner murray supra ham south carolina holding ham instance follows since one purposes due process clause fourteenth amendment insure essential demands fairness lisenba california since principal purpose adoption fourteenth amendment prohibit invidiously discriminating basis race cases wall think fourteenth amendment required judge case interrogate jurors upon subject racial prejudice south carolina law permits challenges cause authorizes trial judge conduct voir dire examination potential jurors state created statutory framework selection juries essential fairness required due process clause fourteenth amendment requires facts shown record petitioner permitted jurors interrogated issue racial bias state may entrust determination whether man live die tribunal organized return verdict death specifically hold sentence death carried jury imposed recommended chosen excluding veniremen cause simply voiced general objections death penalty expressed conscientious religious scruples infliction defendant constitutionally put death hands tribunal selected footnotes omitted see also lockhart mccree wainwright witt revisited witherspoon held affirmatively state may exclude capital sentencing juries class veniremen whose views prevent substantially impair performance duties accordance instructions oaths see also lockett ohio indeed lockhart mccree thereafter spoke terms whose removal cause serves state entirely proper interest obtaining single jury impartially decide issues capital case witt moreover short step observe well lockhart state may challenge cause prospective jurors whose opposition death penalty strong prevent impartially determining capital defendant guilt innocence ipso facto state must given opportunity identify prospective jurors questioning voir dire views death penalty deal petitioner ability exercise intelligently complementary challenge cause biased persons venire jurors unwaveringly impose death finding guilt voir dire available lay bare foundation petitioner challenge cause prospective jurors always impose death following conviction right tried jurors rendered nugatory meaningless state right absence questioning strike never issue remaining whether questions propounded trial sufficient satisfy petitioner right make inquiry noted illinois suggests general fairness follow law questions like employed trial enough detect venire automatically vote death penalty state request questioning witherspoon witt course belies argument witherspoon succeeding cases large measure superfluous convinced general inquiries detect jurors views preventing substantially impairing duties accordance instructions oath jurors whether unalterably favor opposed death penalty every case definition ones perform duties accordance law protestations contrary notwithstanding general questions fairness impartiality jurors truth candor respond affirmatively personally confident dogmatic views fair impartial leaving specific concern unprobed importantly however belief death imposed ipso facto upon conviction capital offense reflects directly individual inability follow law see supra juror impose death regardless facts circumstances conviction follow dictates law see turner murray plurality opinion may juror good conscience swear uphold law yet unaware maintaining dogmatic beliefs death penalty prevent defendant trial life must permitted voir dire ascertain whether prospective jurors function misconception risk jurors may empaneled case infected petitioner capital sentencing unacceptable light ease risk minimized omitted petitioner entitled upon request inquiry discerning jurors even prior state case chief predetermined terminating issue trial whether impose death penalty iii justice scalia dissent insists illinois entitled try death penalty case even jurors upon inquiry announce automatically vote impose death penalty defendant found guilty capital offense matter mitigating factors whether statutory nonstatutory might post jurors obviously deem mitigating evidence irrelevant decision impose death penalty refuse give evidence weight also plainly saying mitigating evidence worth consideration consider justice scalia jaundiced view decision today may best explained rejection line cases tracing woodson north carolina lockett ohio developing nature role mitigating evidence trial capital offenses see walton arizona scalia concurring part concurring judgment payne tennessee slip scalia concurring sochor florida ante scalia concurring part dissenting part view long rejected important purposes however view finds support either statutory decisional law illinois law consistent requirements concerning mitigating evidence described cases see turner murray supra white plurality opinion illinois death penalty statute provides shall consider shall instruct jury consider aggravating mitigating factors relevant imposition death penalty ch supp lists certain mitigating factors legislature must deemed relevant imposition ibid statute explicitly directs procedure controlling jury deliberation unanimous finding jury one factors enumerated aggravation exist jury shall consider aggravating mitigating factors instructed shall determine whether sentence death shall imposed jury determines unanimously mitigating factors sufficient preclude imposition death sentence shall sentence defendant death deciding whether defendant sentenced death consider aggravating factors supported evidence mitigating factors supported evidence unanimously find consideration evidence mitigating factors sufficient preclude imposition death sentence sign verdict requiring sentence defendant death app surely particular illinois case judge imposes sentence defendant waive right jury sentencing statute see supra announce mitigating evidence beside point intends impose death penalty without regard nature extent mitigating evidence defendant found guilty capital offense judge refusing advance follow statutory direction consider evidence disqualify juror mitigating factors likewise irrelevant disqualified cause juror formed opinion concerning merits case without basis evidence developed trial accordingly defendant case entitled inquiry made proposed trial judge iv inadequacy voir dire leads us doubt petitioner sentenced death jury empaneled compliance fourteenth amendment sentence stand turner murray accordingly judgment illinois affirming petitioner death sentence reversed case remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion ordered footnotes questioning led removal cause one prospective juror following exchange follow instructions law case even though might agree yes know reason give defendant fair trial problem trial came friend parents murdered twelve years ago capital punishment give fair trial found guilty want hung fair impartial throughout proceedings excused app illinois subsequently emphasized decision case meant imply question inappropriate indeed given type scrutiny capital cases receive review one think trial courts go way afford defendant every possible safeguard question may means ensuring defendant impartial jury certainly direct best way ensure prospective juror automatically vote death penalty ask people jackson see also state atkins delaware south carolina agree illinois inquiry unnecessary long questions oath juror swears fair impartial follow law see riley state del cert denied state hyman cert denied missouri appears view well state mcmillin mo cert denied california georgia louisiana new jersey north carolina utah virginia disagree see people bittaker skipper state state henry la state williams state rogers state norton utah cert denied patterson commonwealth apparently arkansas florida kentucky see pickens state ark cert denied gore state cert denied morris commonwealth lower courts alabama also follow latter view see bracewell state app cf henderson state crim app plain error trial failure sua sponte life qualify prospective jurors aff see virginia constitutionally compelled enough questions might helpful rather trial failure ask questions must render defendant trial fundamentally unfair illinois argues changed structure death penalty jurisprudence since furman georgia witherspoon principles longer guide area analogous arguments previously raised rejected adams texas considering texas death penalty scheme light witherspoon stated urors texas must determine whether evidence presented state convinces beyond reasonable doubt three questions put must answered affirmative must consider aggravating mitigating circumstances whether appearing evidence presented trial guilt innocence sentencing proceedings jurors characteristically know affirmative answers questions result automatic imposition death penalty jurors whose exclusion challenged petitioner informed essence texas juries must allowed consider basis relevant evidence death sentence imposed also imposed jurek texas opinion stewart powell stevens process exact science jurors texas bifurcated procedure unavoidably exercise range judgment discretion remaining true instructions oaths adams supra citation omitted balancing approach chosen illinois vests considerably discretion jurors considering death penalty stronger reason witherspoon general principles apply cf turner murray plurality opinion fifth circuit observed obiter dictum veniremen potentially biased process voir dire designed cull venire persons demonstrate fair either side case clearly extremes must eliminated spite evidence automatically vote convict impose death penalty automatically vote acquit impose life sentence smith balkcom emphasis original modified cert denied almost passing state also suggests inquiry inapposite putative quantitative difference illinois requires unanimous verdict favor imposing death see supra thus one juror nullify imposition death penalty persons automatically death penalty carry weight illinois argues persons automatically death penalty still need persuade remaining eleven jurors vote death penalty brief respondent dissent chooses champion argument post although clearly foreclosed ross oklahoma held even one juror panel one many see supra event measure jury taken reference impartiality individual juror illinois chosen provide capital defendant jurors decide fate jurors must stand equally impartial ability follow law certain prospective jurors maintain inconsistent beliefs follow law always vote impose death conviction capital offense demonstrated even case see supra indeed wainwright witt set forth following exchange highlighting inconsistency beliefs regards witherspoon illinois wait minute made mind yet seat let ask things prefixed ideas case follow law give concerned indicated state mind might make unable follow law state bring back death penalty step illinois rev ch supp provides mitigating factors may include need limited following defendant significant history prior criminal activity murder committed defendant influence extreme mental emotional disturbance although constitute defense prosecution murdered individual participant defendant homicidal conduct consented homicidal act defendant acted compulsion threat menace imminent infliction death great bodily harm defendant personally present commission act acts causing death decision today bearing validity petitioner conviction witherspoon justice scalia chief justice justice thomas join dissenting today holds juror always impose death penalty capital murder impartial sense required sixth amendment constitution requires voir dire directed specific bias provided upon defendant request general questions fairness ability follow law asked voir dire case inadequate conclusions seem jointly severally wrong dissent today reaffirms holding sixth amendment binding fourteenth amendment require jury trial sentencing phase capital case ante see clemons mississippi walton arizona cabana bullock spaziano florida see also mcmillan pennsylvania right jury sentencing noncapital case separate line cases however said exclusion persons merely express serious reservations capital punishment sentencing juries violates right impartial jury sixth amendment witherspoon illinois see also adams texas wainwright witt two propositions course contradictory capital sentencing subject sixth amendment jury guarantee neither subject subsidiary requirement requisite jury impartial effectively concedes sixth amendment apply relying instead upon due process clause fourteenth amendment says requires sentencing jury impartial extent sixth amendment requires jury guilt phase impartial ante agree see gardner florida plurality opinion sentencing procedures must comply requirements due process clause agree however unconstitutional partiality either sixth amendment fourteenth amendment purposes established fact juror standard judgment applies defendant trial others happens standard least favorable defense assume example criminal prosecution state plans prove elements circumstantial evidence surely counsel defendant establish unconstitutional partiality hence obtain mandatory recusal juror getting state voir dire prosecution crime elements shown always vote convict admission simply demonstrate particular juror standard judgment regarding evidence deserves weighed even though application standard certainty cause juror vote convict case hand juror therefore biased partial constitutionally forbidden sense also seems jurors standards judgment concerning appropriateness death penalty fact particular juror thinks death penalty proper whenever capital murder established disqualify sure law governing sentencing verdicts says jury may give less death penalty circumstances hypothetical case propounded law governing guilt verdicts says jury may acquit despite proof elements neither case requirement option left available jury convert requirement jurors must facts case amenable entertaining option state jury sentencing violates due process requirement impartiality allowing seating jurors favor death penalty state sentencing permitting people elect executive appoint judges favor death penalty cf grinnell richards cert denied thompson adams dissenting lafave israel criminal procedure adherence particular legal principle basis challenging impartiality judge indeed precisely individual juror biases constitutionally permissible witherspoon illinois imposed limitation state may skew makeup jury whole excluding jurors ii view juror always impose death penalty upon proof required aggravating factors fail good faith consider evidence aggravating mitigating circumstances instructions require ante emphasis added see also ante agree true instructions required jurors deem certain evidence mitigating weigh evidence deciding penalty hypothesis juror firm attachment death penalty demonstrate absence constitutionally requisite impartiality requires decisionmaker able conscientiously apply law find facts witt supra see also lockhart mccree adams supra hypothesis however true applied facts present case remarkably rests judgment upon juror inability comply instructions without bothering describe key instructions one considers perfectly clear preclude juror taking view capital murder death sentence always warranted jury case instructed ggravating factors reasons defendant sentenced death itigating factors reasons defendant sentenced death jury must consider aggravating factors supported evidence mitigating factors supported evidence jury impose death sentence found consideration evidence mitigating factors sufficient preclude imposition death sentence app instructions way define constitutes mitigating aggravating factor point jury finding stage petitioner committed contract killing necessarily aggravator reflected instructions illinois law permitted juror define whether particular item evidence mitigating sense provided reaso defendant sentenced death thus simply case illinois law precluded juror taking position valid reasons defendant committed contract killing sentenced death juror fail consider evidence ante cf ch supp shall instruct jury consider aggravating mitigating factors relevant simply fails give effect defendant desires exclusion jurors justified theory regardless illinois law purports permit eighth amendment prohibits juror always advocating death sentence weighing stage cases area hold sentencer must give effect even must consider evidence offered defendant mitigating rather must precluded considering lockett ohio plurality opinion emphasis added bell ohio plurality opinion see also walton plurality opinion requirement individualized sentencing capital cases satisfied allowing jury consider relevant mitigating evidence emphasis added quoting blystone pennsylvania saffle parks state bar relevant mitigating evidence emphasis added mckoy north carolina ach juror must permitted consider give effect mitigating evidence emphasis added penry lynaugh state may prevent sentencer considering giving effect mitigating evidence emphasis added jury must provided vehicle expressing reasoned moral response evidence rendering sentencing decision emphasis added mills maryland state may impose barrier sentencer consideration mitigating evidence emphasis added turner murray plurality opinion sentencer must free weigh relevant mitigating evidence emphasis added roberts louisiana mandatory death penalty statute unconstitutional allow consideration particularized mitigating factors emphasis added woodson north carolina plurality opinion jurek texas opinion stewart powell stevens jj jury must allowed consider relevant mitigating evidence emphasis added similarly judge final sentencer held must consider mitigating evidence may legal grounds refuse consider hitchcock dugger eddings oklahoma sentencing judge may refuse consider matter law relevant mitigating evidence emphasis original woodson lockett meant ensure sentencing jury function link contemporary community values penal system witherspoon mean specify content values must conscience community also includes jurors swayed mitigating evidence relies upon dicta contained opinion ross oklahoma ante case defendant challenged cause juror stated voir dire automatically vote impose death sentence defendant convicted trial rejected challenge ross used peremptory challenge remove juror although noted state appellate assumed juror able follow law citing ross state held ross deprived impartial jury none jurors actually sat petit jury partial reaching conclusion however expressed view challenged juror actually served sentence overturned attaches great weight dictum describes announc ing considered view ante hyperbole clear face opinion dictum based entirely fact state assumed juror unwilling follow law penalty phase point purport examine independently ross dictum thus merely reflects quite modest proposition juror follow law impartial illinois violate due process seating juror swayed mitigating evidence weighing stage constitution entitle petitioner identify jurors voir dire iii even agreed however jurors always advocate death sentence capital murder impartial must excused cause agree conclusion constitution requires trial make specific inquiries subject voir dire virginia surveyed cases concerning requirements voir dire concluded except interracial capital crimes issue trial courts retai great latitude deciding questions asked voir dire see also ristaino ross emphasized authority require specific inquiries voir dire particularly narrow respect state trials may exercise supervisory authority limited enforcing commands constitution concluded general matter defendant entitled specific questions failure ask render trial fundamentally unfair thus held absent special circumstance turner supra generalized thorough inquiry impartiality veniremen constitutionally adequate voir dire ristaino supra finally long acknowledged light credibility determinations involved trial finding particular juror impartial may overturned manifest error patton yount quoting irvin dowd see also supra today extending witherspoon rule require affirmatively capital sentencing jury contain mix views death penalty requirement course constitute special circumstance necessitating specific inquiry subject voir dire petitioner sought purports decree theory described juror always impose death penalty capital murder one fail good faith consider evidence aggravating mitigating circumstances instructions require ante emphasis added even assuming contrary reality theory fits facts case instructions required jurors open voting death penalty basis allegedly mitigating circumstances see reason jurors defy element instructions like jurors defy elements instructions see supra identified general questions concerning fairness willingness follow law present case trial voir dire specifically asked nine jurors ultimately served whether follow instructions even disagreed nine answered affirmatively moreover veniremen informed nature case instructed selected required follow instructions subsequently jurors responded negatively specific question whether reason think fair impartial case questions part extensive voir dire succeeded identifying one juror unable follow instructions penalty phase juror admitted anger felt murder friend parents sentiments favor death penalty strong believe fair petitioner sentencing hearing taking appropriate account opportunity trial observe evaluate demeanor veniremen see basis concluding finding jurors impartial manifestly erroneous provides two reasons specific question must asked neither passes gullible scrutiny first general questions insufficient jurors truth candor respond affirmatively personally confident dogmatic views fair impartial ante words jurors always impose death penalty violating instructions without realizing seems quite obvious solution problem require specific question juror achieved simply changing instructions jurors understand aggravators always outweigh mitigators view prohibited record reflect petitioner made objection clarity instructions regard second asserts adequacy general voir dire questions belied state request questioning witherspoon witt ante without questioning told witherspoon succeeding cases large measure superfluous ante witherspoon reasoning assumes give state right exclude jurors clear beyond peradventure witherspoon ground challenging prospective juror adams therefore quite impossible anything say subject today render holding witherspoon superfluous describes ante short step witherspoon adams witt fact great leap unbridgeable chasm logic witherspoon succeeding cases held state constitutionally prevented excluding jurors facts impose death today concludes state constitutionally compelled exclude jurors facts establishing particular aggravated murder invariably impose death argument constitution requires one must require obviously rests false premise event mere fact illinois sees fit request one another question voir dire order discover jurors logical matter establish general questioning constitutionally inadequate job similar reasons reject petitioner argument fundamentally unfair allow illinois make specific inquiries concerning jurors always vote death penalty preclude defendant discovering excluding jurors always vote favor death brief petitioner citing wardius oregon even unfair course state given option today opinion provide abandoning witherspoon qualification death penalty statute contain unanimity requirement confident prosecutors prefer wholesale elimination jurors favoring death penalty consequence today decision fact unfairness asymmetry reason illinois death penalty unanimity requirement ch supp practical consequences allowing two types jurors serve vastly different single death penalty opponent block punishment unwavering advocates impose fundamentally asymmetry unfair illinois law reflected statute instructions case witherspoon disqualified juror lawless juror whereas juror disqualified new rule first stage illinois sentencing hearing jurors must determine facts specified aggravating factors second weighing stage must impose death penalty murder particular aggravators find mitigating factors sufficient preclude imposition whereas finding aggravation mandatory finding mitigation optional constitutes mitigation defined left judgment juror given always aggravators considered weighing stage juror says never vote death penalty matter facts saying apply law classic case partiality since facts may show mitigation juror says always vote death penalty promising lawless since case law compelled find mitigating fact sufficiently mitigating people illinois decided words murder certain aggravators punished death unless jury chooses extend mercy scheme complies death penalty jurisprudence existed yesterday effect added new rule merciless jurors sit important bear mind juror ignore requirement finding aggravating factor issue petitioner contend voir dire question seeks necessary juror impartially make strictly factual determination first stage illinois sentencing procedure defendant eligible death penalty one statutorily required aggravating factors exists case fact murder contract killing obviously standard question whether juror obey instructions enough disclose difficulty petitioner theory accepts ante special voir dire question necessary identify veniremen second weighing stage properly found aggravating factor never find enough mitigation preclude imposing death brief petitioner attaches great weight use term sufficient instructions governing statute views term implicitly establishing jurors must find mitigation else reasons jury determine whether sufficient mitigation ante inference plainly fallacious direction person consider whether sufficient reasons something logically imply circumstance must find something reason must find reason sufficient notes illinois statute lists certain potentially mitigating factors see ch supp therefore concludes legislature must deemed relevant imposition death penalty ante course true listed factors relevant sense juror may find mitigating nd also sense defendant must allowed introduce evidence concerning factors statute permissive nonexhaustive list clearly establish needs show jurors must deem factors actually mitigating fact jury discretion deem evidence mitigating establish obligation indeed impossible principle distinguish juror believe factor mitigating one believes particular factor extreme mental emotional disturbance mitigating presumably today decision juror thinks bad childhood never mitigating must also excluded event deciding whether vacate petitioner sentence account juror impartiality basis one petitioner jurors may refused follow instructions must guided instructions perhaps given question state law authority review instructions given response point suggestion somehow rests upon rejecting woodson lockett line cases ante quotations dozen woodson lockett cases make painfully clear claims case truly involved reverse principles established witherspoon illinois cases following ante difficult understand petitioner entitled challenge jurors automatically impose death penalty also whose sentiments subject sufficiently strong faithful service jurors substantially impaired reformulated standard adopted adams texas wainwright witt failure carry premise logical conclusion suggests awareness premise wrong see exodus smiteth man die shall surely put death kant philosophy law hastie transl hoever committed murder must die even civil society resolved dissolve consent members last murderer lying prison executed resolution carried done order every one may realize desert deeds