satterwhite texas argued december decided may petitioner charged capital crime murder committed robbery represented counsel subjected examination psychologist determine competency stand trial sanity time offense future dangerousness petitioner served copies state motion examination order petitioner later indicted counsel appointed represent arraigned district attorney without serving copy motion defense counsel requested second psychiatric evaluation petitioner matters without determining whether defense counsel notified state motion trial granted motion ordered examination psychologist specified psychiatrist later letter another psychiatrist grigson appeared file stating pursuant order examined petitioner concluded petitioner severe antisocial personality disorder extremely dangerous commit future acts violence petitioner tried jury convicted capital murder separate sentencing procedure conducted accordance texas law jury appearing witness state grigson testified defense counsel objection opinion petitioner presented continuing threat society acts criminal violence jury answered affirmatively special verdict questions whether state proved beyond reasonable doubt defendant conduct causing death committed deliberately reasonable expectation victim death result probability defendant commit criminal acts violence constitute continuing threat society required state law sentenced petitioner death petitioner appeal death sentence texas criminal appeals held admission grigson testimony violated sixth amendment right recognized estelle smith defendant formally charged capital crime consult counsel submitting psychiatric examination designed determine future dangerousness however concluded constitutional violation subject harmless error analysis error harmless case held use capital sentencing proceeding grigson testimony issue future dangerousness violated sixth amendment criminal appeals properly determined compliance sixth amendment requirement set estelle smith defense counsel given advance notice psychiatric examination encompassing issue future dangerousness petitioner right counsel attached time grigson examined jail record support state contention various ex parte motions orders contained file provided defense counsel notice examination encompassing issue petitioner future dangerousness take place moreover even ex parte orders filings timely applicable grigson examination adequately notify defense counsel grigson examine petitioner assess future dangerousness constructive notice defense counsel achieved mere placement state motions ex parte orders file satisfy sixth amendment pp harmless error rule set forth chapman california held prosecution prove beyond reasonable doubt constitutional error contribute verdict error harmless verdict may stand applies admission psychiatric testimony violation sixth amendment right set estelle smith constitutional violations including sixth amendment violations pervade entire criminal proceeding nature cast much doubt fairness trial process matter law never considered harmless however effect sixth amendment violation case limited admission evidence grigson testimony important avoid error capital sentencing proceedings moreover evaluation consequences error sentencing phase capital case may difficult discretion given sentencer nevertheless reviewing make intelligent judgment whether erroneous admission psychiatric testimony might affected capital sentencing jury pp criminal appeals improperly held erroneous admission grigson testimony harmless beyond reasonable doubt concluded admission testimony critical issue future dangerousness probability must found death sentence may imposed texas law harmless legally admitted evidence sufficient support jury finding future dangerousness however chapman harmless error test controlling question whether state proved beyond reasonable doubt error complained contribute verdict obtained upon reviewing evidence sentencing hearing finds impossible say beyond reasonable doubt grigson expert testimony issue petitioner future dangerousness influence sentencing jury pp delivered opinion rehnquist white stevens scalia joined marshall filed opinion concurring part concurring judgment brennan joined part ii blackmun joined post blackmun filed opinion concurring part concurring judgment post kennedy took part consideration decision case richard woods appointment argued cause petitioner brief stephen takas charles palmer assistant attorney general texas argued cause respondent brief jim mattox attorney general scott mccown paula offenhauser assistant attorneys general mary keller executive assistant attorney julius chambers joel berger anthony amsterdam filed brief naacp legal defense educational fund amicus curiae urging reversal justice delivered opinion estelle smith recognized defendants formally charged capital crimes sixth amendment right consult counsel submitting psychiatric examinations designed determine future dangerousness question case whether harmless error introduce psychiatric testimony obtained violation safeguard capital sentencing proceeding march petitioner john satterwhite charged capital crime murdering mary francis davis robbery next day satterwhite represented counsel presiding district judge granted state request psychological examination determine satterwhite competency stand trial sanity time offense future dangerousness record though state motion order placed filed satterwhite served copies either psychologist betty lou schroeder examined satterwhite pursuant order satterwhite indicted april trial appointed counsel represent sent copy appointment letter bexar county district attorney app satterwhite arraigned april april district attorney filed second motion requesting psychiatric evaluation satterwhite competency stand trial sanity time crime future dangerousness app district attorney serve defense counsel copy motion next day without determining whether defense counsel notified state motion trial granted motion ordered sheriff produce satterwhite examination psychologist betty lou schroeder psychiatrist john holbrook record reveal order placed file may letter trial psychiatrist james grigson appeared file grigson wrote pursuant order examined satterwhite may bexar county jail reported opinion satterwhite severe antisocial personality disorder extremely dangerous commit future acts violence app satterwhite tried jury convicted capital murder accordance texas law separate proceeding conducted jury determine whether sentenced death life imprisonment see tex code crim proc art vernon supp state produced grigson witness support case death penalty defense counsel objection grigson testified opinion satterwhite presented continuing threat society acts criminal violence conclusion evidence instructed jury decide whether state proved beyond reasonable doubt conduct defendant caused death committed deliberately reasonable expectation death victim result probability defendant commit criminal acts violence constitute continuing threat society app texas law provides jury returns affirmative findings special verdict questions shall sentence defendant death tex code crim proc art vernon supp jury answered questions affirmatively trial sentenced satterwhite death satterwhite appealed death sentence arguing admission grigson testimony violated sixth amendment right assistance counsel recognized estelle smith supra texas criminal appeals agreed concluded error harmless average jury found properly admitted evidence sufficient sentence satterwhite death acknowledged holding sixth amendment violation tainting entire criminal proceeding never considered harmless holloway arkansas reasoned per se rule reversal inappropriate error relates admission particular evidence granted certiorari decide whether harmless error analysis applies violations sixth amendment right set estelle smith ii controversy estelle smith supra also centered expert testimony james grigson case grigson appeared witness state capital sentencing proceeding testified defendant severe sociopath continue commit violent crimes future based testimony upon psychiatric examination defendant conducted pursuant order problem case defense counsel given advance notice grigson psychiatric examination encompassing issue client future dangerousness take place recognized defendant charged capital crime decision whether submit psychiatric examination designed determine future dangerousness literally life death matter defendant required face without guiding hand counsel quoting smith estelle powell alabama held defense counsel must given advance notice examination texas criminal appeals determined sixth amendment notice requirement set estelle smith met case agree since satterwhite indictment arraignment appointment counsel occurred grigson examined bexar county jail clear sixth amendment right counsel attached time see estelle kirby illinois state contest lower finding satterwhite waive right consult attorney participating psychiatric examination state contends however various ex parte motions orders contained file provided defense counsel notice examination encompassing issue client future dangerousness take place note preliminarily applicability timing filings disputed record contain order authorizing grigson examine satterwhite already noted unclear whether april order appointing drs schroeder holbrook placed file grigson performed examination see supra yet even ex parte orders filings timely applicable grigson examination agree texas criminal appeals adequately notify defense counsel grigson examine defendant assess future dangerousness criminal appeals find defense counsel actual knowledge motion order psychiatric examination state cited authority proposition constructive notice defense counsel achieved mere placement state motions ex parte orders file satisfies sixth amendment hold accordingly like texas criminal appeals conclude use grigson testimony capital sentencing proceeding issue future dangerousness violated sixth amendment conclusion end inquiry constitutional violations amount reversible error generally held prosecution prove beyond reasonable doubt constitutional error contribute verdict error harmless verdict may stand chapman california harmless error rule promotes public respect criminal process focusing underlying fairness trial rather virtually inevitable presence immaterial error rose clark quoting delaware van arsdall constitutional violations however nature cast much doubt fairness trial process matter law never considered harmless sixth amendment violations pervade entire proceeding fall within category see holloway arkansas conflict interest representation throughout entire proceeding chapman supra citing gideon wainwright total deprivation counsel throughout entire proceeding white maryland absence counsel arraignment proceeding affected entire trial defenses asserted irretrievably lost hamilton alabama since scope violation deprivation right representation discerned record inquiry effect outcome case purely speculative explained holloway normal case rule applied error occurs trial scope readily identifiable accordingly reviewing undertake confidence relatively narrow task assessing likelihood error materially affected deliberations jury case joint representation conflicting interests evil bears repeating advocate finds compelled refrain trial also possible pretrial plea negotiations sentencing process thus inquiry claim harmless error require unlike cases unguided speculation citations omitted important avoid error capital sentencing proceedings moreover evaluation consequences error sentencing phase capital case may difficult discretion given sentencer nevertheless believe reviewing make intelligent judgment whether erroneous admission psychiatric testimony might affected capital sentencing jury accordingly hold chapman harmless error rule applies admission psychiatric testimony violation sixth amendment right set estelle smith iii applying chapman harmless error test agree criminal appeals erroneous admission grigson testimony harmless beyond reasonable doubt texas sentence defendant death prosecution convinces jury beyond reasonable doubt probability defendant commit criminal acts violence constitute continuing threat society tex code crim proc art vernon supp criminal appeals thought admission grigson expert testimony critical issue harmless properly admitted evidence minds average jury found state case future dangerousness sufficient even grigson testimony admitted question however whether legally admitted evidence sufficient support death sentence assume rather whether state proved beyond reasonable doubt error complained contribute verdict obtained chapman evidence introduced sentencing showed addition conviction case satterwhite four prior convictions crimes ranging aggravated assault armed robbery eight police officers testified satterwhite reputation peaceful citizen bad satterwhite mother former husband testified satterwhite shot argument state also introduced testimony bexar county psychologist betty lou schroeder schroeder testified found satterwhite cunning individual user people inability feel empathy guilt testified opinion satterwhite continuing threat society acts criminal violence app grigson state final witness testimony stands qualifications medical doctor specializing psychiatry powerful content message grigson licensed physician take stand informed jury educational background experience included teaching psychiatry dallas medical school practicing psychiatry years stated unequivocably expert opinion satterwhite present continuing threat society continuing acts violence explained satterwhite lack conscience severe sociopath illustrate point testified scale ones mild sociopaths tens individuals complete disregard human life satterwhite ten plus grigson concluded testimony direct examination perhaps devastating opinion told jury satterwhite beyond reach psychiatric rehabilitation district attorney highlighted grigson credentials conclusions closing argument doctor james grigson dallas psychiatrist medical doctor tells range ten plus severe sociopath extremely dangerous continuing threat society cured well disease illness personality john satterwhite record ordered footnotes state points following documents record state march motion psychological examination app march order granting motion appointing betty lou schroeder examine satterwhite state april motion psychiatric examination conducted drs holbrook schroeder april order granting motion satterwhite contends schroeder testimony also admitted violation estelle smith texas criminal appeals explicitly noted claim raised trial appeal decline consider justice marshall justice brennan joins justice blackmun joins part ii concurring part concurring judgment agree psychiatric examination grigson testified capital sentencing proceeding bald violation estelle smith petitioner death sentence vacated write separately believe errs applying analysis sixth amendment violation view unique nature capital sentencing determination cause especially hesitant ever sanction review constitutional errors taint capital sentencing proceedings even certain constitutional errors might properly subject analysis violation estelle smith error today ruling never applied analysis constitutional violations taint sentencing phase capital trial deciding apply analysis sixth amendment violation case believe fails adequately consider unique nature capital sentencing proceeding sentencer decision whether defendant live die analysis also flawed fails accord noticeable weight qualitative difference death punishments unlike determination guilt innocence turns largely evaluation objective facts question whether death appropriate sentence requires profoundly moral evaluation defendant character crime see california brown concurring death sentence reflect reasoned moral response defendant background character crime enmund florida capital defendant punishment must tailored personal responsibility moral guilt moreover although much capital jurisprudence since furman georgia focused guiding channeling decision whether death appropriate sentence specific case sentencer nonetheless afforded substantial discretion see mccleskey kemp woodson north carolina even face overwhelming aggravating evidence sentencer discretion act leniency refuse impose death sentence see mccleskey supra iscretionary exercises leniency sentencer final unreviewable moral character capital sentencing determination substantial discretion placed hands sentencer predicting reaction sentencer proceeding untainted constitutional error basis cold record dangerously speculative enterprise recognized caldwell mississippi hatever intangibles jury might consider sentencing determination gleaned appellate record vein appellate ill equipped evaluate effect constitutional error sentencing determination sentencing judgments even guided channeled inherently subjective weight sentencer gives instruction significant piece evidence later determined violate defendant constitutional rights nowhere apparent record mccleskey kemp supra acknowledged ndividual jurors bring deliberations qualities human nature varieties human experience range unknown perhaps unknowable collective judgment appropriate sentence marked inherent lack predictability quoting peters kiff opinion marshall threat erroneous determination thus looms much larger capital sentencing context elsewhere threat particular concern unique nature death sentence awesome severity sentence death makes qualitatively different sanctions see lockett ohio plurality opinion reason emphasized greater need reliability capital cases required capital proceedings policed stages especially vigilant concern procedural fairness accuracy factfinding strickland washington brennan concurring part dissenting part see california ramos qualitative difference death punishments requires correspondingly greater degree scrutiny capital sentencing determination heightened concern reliability ime condemned procedures capital cases might completely acceptable ordinary case barefoot estelle marshall dissenting analysis impinges directly reliability capital sentencing decision allowing substitute judgment sentencer done absence constitutional error actual judgment sentencer untainted constitutional error therefore serious doubts whether constitutional error infects sentencing phase capital case ever may considered harmless beyond reasonable doubt even agree analysis appropriate certain constitutional errors sentencing phase situation presented error violation sixth amendment estelle smith ii initial matter estelle smith gave hint analysis ever apply admission psychiatric testimony capital sentencing proceeding based examination defendant conducted violation sixth amendment right counsel finding constitutional error simply vacated death sentence see failure engage analysis smith understandable factors traditionally focused determine whether review appropriate make clear estelle smith violation taints capital sentencing proceeding lead automatic reversal first potential actual prejudice resulting violation smith high inquiry prejudice worth cost strickland washington supra evidenced case psychiatric testimony generally critical importance sentencing determination covering issues rehabilitative potential future dangerousness individual culpability moreover psychiatric testimony issues clothed scientific authority often carries great weight lay juries cf ake oklahoma recognizing pivotal role psychiatry come play criminal proceedings second difficult impossible accurately measure degree prejudice arising failure notify defense counsel impending psychiatric examination subsequent admission sentencing phase evidence acquired examination cf hamilton alabama rejecting analysis degree prejudice never known holloway arkansas inquiry claim harmless error case involving defense counsel conflict interests require unlike cases unguided speculation discussed decision whether defendant live die discretionary moral judgment involving balancing often intangible factors divining effect psychiatric testimony sentencer determination whether death appropriate sentence thus province soothsayers appellate judges addition contrary claim see ante prejudice arising estelle smith violation limited illegal admission psychiatric testimony defense counsel properly notified smith state intention perform psychiatric examination course subsequent proceedings may altered significantly instance defense counsel might extensively prepare client examination perhaps advise client refuse participate examination particular psychiatrist defense counsel also might urge different psychiatrist perform examination cf estelle smith defendant denied assistance attorneys making significant decision whether submit examination end psychiatrist findings employed therefore believe attempt predict effect estelle smith violation require appellate engage unguided speculation confluence factors likelihood prejudice difficulty evaluating degree prejudice together heightened concern reliability capital cases convinces psychiatric examination conducted violation estelle smith later admission capital sentencing proceeding psychiatric testimony based examination may never considered harmless error thought decision holloway arkansas supra already settled question whether estelle smith violation capital case ever harmless error holloway stated right assistance counsel fundamental absolute allow courts indulge nice calculations amount prejudice arising accordingly defendant deprived presence assistance attorney either throughout prosecution critical stage least prosecution capital offense reversal automatic quoting glasser stated estelle smith supra pretrial examination state psychiatrist capital defendant critical stage capital case recognized case decision made regarding proposed psychiatric evaluation literally life death matter difficult even attorney requires knowledge evidence available particular psychiatrist biases predilections possible alternative strategies sentencing hearing quoting smith estelle attempts distinguish holloway arguing case deprivation right counsel affected contaminated entire criminal proceeding ante holloway anticipated automatic reversal deprivation affected entire proceeding also deprivation occurred critical stage least prosecution capital offense emphasis added focusing whether error occurred capital case holloway exhibited appreciation heightened concern reliability context something believe today decision fails recognize end principally relies belief reviewing make intelligent judgment whether erroneous admission psychiatric testimony might affected capital sentencing jury ante possess confidence appellate ability divine prejudice arising significant error capital sentencing proceeding view speculation engendered review violation estelle smith context capital sentencing proceeding presents intolerable danger death sentence administered erroneously accordingly join aspect opinion sanctioning analysis violations estelle smith likelihood actual prejudice arising illegal admission psychiatric testimony even greater context case texas capital sentencing statute provides absence evidence provocation victim shall sentence defendant death jury finds murder committed deliberately reasonable expectation death deceased result probability defendant commit criminal acts violence constitute continuing threat society tex code crim proc art vernon supp psychiatrist evaluation future dangerousness thus purports answer one two questions posed statute also important note violation petitioner sixth amendment right counsel estelle smith easy identify reason prosecution directly responsible easy government prevent strickland washington error control state easy prevent holding violation result automatic reversal pose significant burden state moreover present case unable cite single capital case since decision furman georgia ignored holloway reasoning applied analysis sixth amendment violation occurring critical stage proceedings cites dicta buchanan kentucky indication willingness apply analysis admission psychological testimony violation estelle smith petitioner buchanan prosecuted capital offense thus indication case analysis might apply illegal admission psychological testimony little relevance present context justice blackmun concurring part concurring judgment join part ii justice marshall concurring opinion agree analysis inappropriate error sixth amendment violation estelle smith results erroneous admission psychiatric testimony proceeding situation particularly acute system texas jury must answer question psychiatrist purports answer fortified conclusion continuing concern wholly apart testimony ubiquitous doctor grigson texas capital cases reliability psychiatric testimony defendant future dangerousness wrong two times three see barefoot estelle dissenting opinion