gardner florida argued november decided march petitioner convicted murder florida required separate sentencing hearing jury advised impose life sentence ground statutory mitigating circumstances required taken account imposing sentence outweighed aggravating circumstances trial judge relying part presentence investigation report ordered portions disclosed requested counsel parties imposed death sentence ground certain aggravating circumstance justified mitigating circumstance florida affirmed death sentence without expressly discussing petitioner contention sentencing erred considering presentence report including confidential portion deciding impose death penalty without reviewing confidential portion held judgment vacated case remanded pp vacated remanded justice stevens joined justice stewart justice powell concluded petitioner denied due process law death sentence imposed least part basis information opportunity deny explain williams new york distinguished pp light constitutional developments whereby recognized death different kind punishment sentencing process well trial must satisfy due process procedure followed warranted following justifications offered state assurance confidentiality necessary enable investigators obtain relevant sensitive disclosures defendant background character ii full disclosure presentence report unnecessarily delay proceeding iii full disclosure often includes psychiatric psychological evaluations occasionally disrupt rehabilitation process iv trial judges trusted exercise sentencing discretion responsible manner even though decisions may based secret information pp even permissible upon finding good cause withhold portion presentence report defendant even defense counsel nevertheless full report must made part record reviewed appeal since state must administer procedures even hand record must disclose reviewing considerations motivating death sentence every case imposed since otherwise procedure subject defects resulted holding unconstitutionality furman georgia pp defense counsel failure request access full presentence report justify submission less complete record reviewing record trial judge based decision sentence petitioner death omission counsel constitute effective waiver constitutional error pp proper disposition case vacate death sentence remand case florida directions order proceedings trial level inconsistent opinion rather state urges merely remanding case florida directions entire presentence report made part record enable complete reviewing function since latter procedure fully correct error justice white concluded basis eighth amendment ban cruel unusual punishments procedure selecting defendants death penalty permits consideration secret information presentence report relevant defendant character record fails meet need reliability determination death appropriate punishment woodson north carolina pp justice blackmun concurred judgment basis judgments woodson north carolina supra roberts louisiana charles livingston argued cause petitioner briefs james gardner jack greenberg james nabrit iii peggy davis anthony amsterdam wallace allbritton assistant attorney general florida argued cause respondent brief robert shevin attorney general justice stevens announced judgment delivered opinion justice stewart justice powell joined petitioner convicted murder sentenced death trial judge imposed death sentence stated relying part information presentence investigation report portions report disclosed counsel parties without reviewing confidential portion presentence report florida dissent two justices affirmed death sentence conclude procedure satisfy constitutional command person shall deprived life without due process law june petitioner assaulted wife blunt instrument causing death january trial circuit citrus county jury found guilty murder separate sentencing hearing required florida law capital cases held later day state merely introduced two photographs decedent otherwise relying trial testimony testimony credited sufficient support finding one statutory aggravating circumstances felony committed petitioner especially heinous atrocious cruel mitigation petitioner testified consumed vast quantity alcohol drinking spree preceded crime professed almost recollection assault testimony credited sufficient support finding least one statutory mitigating circumstances hearing evidence jury instructed determine majority vote whether state proved one aggravating circumstances defined statute whether mitigating circumstances outweighed aggravating circumstance based determination whether defendant sentenced life death jury retired deliberate judge announced going order presentence investigation petitioner minutes later jury returned advisory verdict expressly found mitigating circumstances outweighed aggravating circumstances advised impose life sentence app presentence investigation report completed florida parole probation commission january january trial judge entered findings fact judgment sentencing petitioner death ultimate finding felony especially heinous atrocious cruel aggravating circumstances outweighs mitigating circumstance none preface ultimate finding recited conclusion based evidence presented stages bifurcated proceeding arguments counsel review factual information contained said investigation ibid dispute fact presentence investigation report contained confidential portion disclosed defense counsel although judge noted findings fact state petitioner counsel given copy portion report entitled counsel made request examine full report apprised contents confidential portion trial judge comment contents confidential portion findings indicate anything special importance undisclosed portion reason customary practice disclosing entire report parties appeal florida petitioner argued sentencing erred considering presentence investigation report including confidential portion making decision impose death penalty per curiam opinion specifically discuss contention merely recited trial judge finding stated record carefully reviewed concluded conviction sentence affirmed record appeal however include confidential portion presentence report justice ervin justice boyd dissented several grounds regarded evidence sufficient establish mitigating circumstance matter law also concluded fundamental error trial judge rely confidential matter provided parties stated part additionally appears record confidential portion psi report made available trial judge provided either appellant appellee fact unclear record whether provided confidential portion thereof review critical final step conviction imposition death penalty one safeguards outlined dixon state dixon evidence opinion contained confidential portion report purely conjectural absolutely unknown therefore unrebuttable appellant means determining review role confidential information played trial judge sentence thus overturn appellant death sentence basis fundamental error alone emphasis original ii state places primary reliance landmark decision williams new york case trial judge rejected jury recommendation mercy imposed death sentence reliance least part material contained report prepared probation department new york appeals affirmed sentence rejecting contention denial due process rely information supplied witnesses accused neither confront referred appellant claim narrow contention characterized case one presents serious difficult question relat ing rules evidence applicable manner judge may obtain information guide imposition sentence upon already convicted defendant justice black opinion persuasively reasons material developed presentence investigation may useful sentencing judge may unfair defendant rely information even admissible normal adversary proceeding open consider relevance reasoning case part iii opinion preliminarily however note two comments justice black make clear holding williams directly applicable case first significant williams material facts concerning defendant background contained presentence report described detail trial judge open referring material justice black noted accuracy statements made judge appellant background past practices challenged appellant counsel judge asked disregard afford appellant chance refute discredit otherwise ibid also significant justice black opinion recognized passage time justifies procedures pointed whole country traveled far period death sentence automatic commonplace result convictions even offenses today deemed trivial iii williams case decided significant constitutional difference death penalty lesser punishments crime expressly recognized time assumed defendant convicted capital offense like offense trial judge complete discretion impose sentence within limits prescribed legislature long judge stayed within limits sentencing discretion essentially unreviewable possibility error remote indeed existed intervening years two constitutional developments require us scrutinize state procedures closely necessary first five members expressly recognized death different kind punishment may imposed country gregg georgia opinion stewart powell stevens jj see marshall dissenting furman georgia brennan concurring stewart concurring see marshall concurring point view defendant different severity finality point view society action sovereign taking life one citizens also differs dramatically legitimate state action vital importance defendant community decision impose death sentence appear based reason rather caprice emotion second clear sentencing process well trial must satisfy requirements due process clause even though defendant substantive right particular sentence within range authorized statute sentencing critical stage criminal proceeding entitled effective assistance counsel mempa rhay specht patterson defendant legitimate interest character procedure leads imposition sentence even may right object particular result sentencing process see witherspoon illinois light developments consider justifications offered state procedure permits trial judge impose death sentence basis confidential information disclosed defendant counsel state first argues assurance confidentiality potential sources information essential enable investigators obtain relevant sensitive disclosures persons unwilling comment publicly defendant background character availability information argued provides person prepares report greater detail base sentencing recommendation turn provides judge better basis sentencing decision consideration must given quality well quantity information sentencing judge may rely assurances secrecy conducive transmission confidences may bear closer relation fact average rumor item gossip may imply pledge attempt independent verification information received risk information accepted confidence may erroneous may misinterpreted investigator sentencing judge manifest state argues important use information sentencing process must assume cases decisive judge choice life sentence death sentence tends tip scales favor life presumably information favorable reason disclosed hand basis death sentence interest reliability plainly outweighs state interest preserving availability comparable information cases state also suggests full disclosure presentence report unnecessarily delay proceeding think likelihood significant delay overstated must presume reports prepared professional probation officers florida procedure requires generally reliable cases accuracy report contested trial judge avoid delay disregarding disputed material disputed matter critical importance time invested ascertaining truth surely well spent makes difference life death state urges full disclosure presentence reports often include psychiatric psychological evaluations occasionally disrupt process rehabilitation argument valid hardly justify withholding report defense counsel moreover whatever force argument may noncapital cases absolutely merit case judge decided sentence defendant death indeed extinction possibility rehabilitation one aspects death sentence makes different kind sentence state may legitimately impose finally florida argues trial judges trusted exercise discretion responsible manner even though may base decisions secret information however acceptable argument might furman georgia clearly foreclosed moreover argument rests erroneous premise participation counsel superfluous process evaluating relevance significance aggravating mitigating facts belief debate adversaries often essential function trials requires us also recognize importance giving counsel opportunity comment facts may influence sentencing decision capital cases even permissible withhold portion report defendant even defense counsel pursuant express finding good cause nondisclosure nevertheless necessary make full report part record reviewed appeal since state must administer procedures even hand see proffitt florida important record appeal disclose reviewing considerations motivated death sentence every case imposed without full disclosure basis death sentence florida procedure subject defects resulted holding unconstitutionality furman georgia particular case explanation lack disclosure failure defense counsel request access full report failure justify submission less complete record reviewing record trial judge based decision sentence petitioner death regard omission counsel effective waiver constitutional error record five reasons conclusion first state urge objection waived second florida held duty consider total record swan state reviews death sentence third since two members expressly considered point appeal case presume entire passed question cf boykin alabama fourth basis presuming defendant made knowing intelligent waiver counsel possibly made tactical decision examine full report cf estelle williams fifth since judge found disagreement jury evidence establish mitigating circumstance since presentence report item considered judge jury full review factual basis judge rejection advisory verdict plainly required jury rather judge correctly assessed petitioner veracity death sentence rests erroneous factual predicate conclude petitioner denied due process law death sentence imposed least part basis information opportunity deny explain iv remains question disposition proper petitioner conviction course tainted error sentencing procedure state argues merely remand case florida directions entire presentence report made part record enable complete reviewing function procedure however fully correct error possible full disclosure followed explanation argument defense counsel caused trial judge accept jury advisory verdict accordingly death sentence vacated case remanded florida directions order proceedings trial level inconsistent opinion vacated remanded footnotes stat ann supp statute provides part mitigating circumstances mitigating circumstances shall following capital felony committed defendant influence extreme mental emotional disturbance capacity defendant appreciate criminality conduct conform conduct requirements law substantially impaired stat ann supp florida rules crim proc authorize presentence investigation rules apply cases trial discretion sentencing make reference special procedure issue appendix brief state printed copy confidential portion presentence report petitioner contests authenticity also argues alternatively review contents made part certified record state courts consideration contents report first instance flouts procedural regularity mandated capital sentencing furman georgia proffitt florida opportunity present evidence rebut confidential portion report unfair improper require address contents reply brief petitioner function evaluate first instance possibly prejudicial impact facts opinions appearing presentence report therefore consider contents appendix state brief fact reference record confidential portion inference drawn ambiguous mention portion entitled supra judge written findings fact issued day sentence announced gregg georgia furman georgia supra brennan concurring mcgautha california witherspoon illinois see williams new york fact due process applies course implicate entire panoply criminal trial procedural rights determined due process applies question remains process due said often others require citation authority due process flexible calls procedural protections particular situation demands flexibility scope determined process due recognition situations calling procedural safeguards call kind procedure morrissey brewer presumption reports normally reliable course inconsistent concern possibility critical unverified information may inaccurate determinative particular case furman georgia white concurring argument inconsistent basis upon florida procedure upheld proffitt florida florida decided petitioner case decision proffitt florida supra consideration proffitt tedder state therefore join justice marshall criticism florida courts failure follow teaching cases justice white concurring judgment woodson north carolina addressed question whether mandatory death penalty imposed statute involved case consistent eighth amendment prohibition cruel unusual punishments plurality opinion stated issue like explored furman involves procedure employed state select persons unique irreversible penalty death emphasis added believe capital cases fundamental respect humanity underlying eighth amendment see trop dulles plurality opinion requires consideration character record individual offender circumstances particular offense constitutionally indispensable part process inflicting penalty death conclusion rests squarely predicate penalty death qualitatively different sentence imprisonment however long death finality differs life imprisonment prison term differs one year two qualitative difference corresponding difference need reliability determination death appropriate punishment specific case emphasis added justice blackmun concurring judgment given judgments woodson north carolina roberts louisiana attained plurality opinion justices stewart powell stevens combination respective concurrences judgment justices brennan marshall concur judgment reaches present case see also proffitt florida jurek texas gregg georgia justice brennan agree reasons stated plurality opinion due process clause fourteenth amendment violated defendant facing death sentence informed contents presentence investigation report made sentencing judge however adhere view death penalty circumstances cruel unusual punishment prohibited eighth fourteenth amendments gregg georgia brennan dissenting therefore vacate death sentence dissent judgment insofar remands proceedings lead imposition justice marshall dissenting last term carefully scrutinized florida procedures imposing death penalty concluded sufficient safeguards insure death sentence wantonly freakishly imposed proffitt florida case however belies hope continue believe death penalty unconstitutional circumstances see furman georgia marshall concurring gregg georgia marshall dissenting therefore remand case resentencing term life nevertheless florida may legally take life must insist accordance standards enunciated case appalled extent florida deviated procedures upon expressly relied simply trial judge overriding jury recommendation life imprisonment relied undisclosed portions presentence report merely florida affirmed sentence without discussing omission without concern even entire report obviously alone enough deny due process require death sentence vacated holds blatant disregard exhibited courts standards devised regulate imposition death penalty calls question basis approval system proffitt proffitt florida supra gave approval new death penalty statute florida carefully spelled reasons joint opinion justices stewart powell stevens hereafter joint opinion noted particular florida stated order sustain sentence death following jury recommendation life facts suggesting sentence death clear convincing virtually reasonable person differ tedder state florida statute requires trial imposes sentence death shall set forth writing findings upon sentence death based facts hat sufficient statutory aggravating circumstances exist hat insufficient statutory mitigating circumstances outweigh aggravating circumstances stat ann supp addition joint opinion concerned florida provided specific form review found assurance fact ince however trial judge must justify imposition death sentence written findings meaningful appellate review sentence made possible florida like georgia counterpart considers function guarantee aggravating mitigating reasons present one case reach similar result reached similar circumstances another case defendant sentenced die review case light decisions determine whether punishment great state dixon emphasis added present case however florida engaged precisely cursory review joint opinion proffitt trusted occur jury considering evidence recommended life sentence jury heard evidence sentencing procedure cause whether aggravating circumstances defined charge existed capital offense involved whether sufficient mitigating circumstances defined charge outweigh aggravating circumstances find advise mitigating circumstances outweigh aggravating circumstances therefore advise life sentence imposed herein upon defendant app undersigned concludes determines aggravating circumstances exist capital felony especially heinous atrocious cruel aggravating circumstances outweighs sic mitigating circumstance none based upon records trial sentencing proceedings makes following findings facts victim died result especially heinous atrocious cruel acts committed defendant nature extent reflected testimony william shutze district medical examiner fifth judicial circuit state florida follows followed list injuries deceased upon considering mitigating aggravating circumstances careful review entire record cause trial imposed death penalty commission atrocious heinous crime accordingly judgment sentence circuit hereby affirmed ordered plurality notes ante two mitigating factors apply case apparently found applicable jury capital felony committed defendant influence extreme mental emotional disturbance capacity defendant appreciate criminality conduct conform conduct requirements law substantially impaired stat ann supp purpose two categories justice ervin observed dissent protect person legally answerable actions may deserving mitigation sentence mental state state dixon agree justice ervin petitioner person undisputed drinking virtually entire day night prior killing psychiatrists found petitioner alcoholic influence alcohol time alleged crime competent knowing right wrong capable adhering right app furthermore actions murder falling asleep wife dead body seeking help next morning wife appear breathing properly weeping realized might dead waiting police come attempt escape consistent temporarily mentally impaired time crime light facts surprising jury found mitigating circumstances outweighed aggravating clearly case evidence suggesting death clear convincing virtually reasonable person differ florida examined evidence manner trusted doubt jury recommendation life imprisonment reinstated justice ervin observed crime passion marital setting excessive use alcohol material factor resulting homicide read statutes type crime merit death penalty discretion exercised impose penalty extends beyond discretion statutes repose governmental officials purpose believe statutes contemplate crime nature intended included heinous category warranting death penalty drunken spree one spouses killed traditionally resulted death penalty state plurality responds ante criticize florida courts decision petitioner case preceded decision proffitt florida decision proffitt tedder conveniently ignores fact petitioner case came several key florida death penalty cases notably state dixon florida guaranteed review insure similar results similar cases proffitt florida quoting state dixon supra significantly however plurality much question procedure followed nothing insure florida condemn man die blatant disregard rules compliance proffitt requires remand trial judge give full consideration mitigating circumstances case rejects jury recommendation life imprisonment reasons clear convincing virtually reasonable person differ review florida must evaluate facts perform comparative analysis failed previously may brothers majority believe requirements obvious need mention nevertheless man life stake blind faith enough even decision proffitt justice rehnquist dissenting joined plurality opinion last term woodson north carolina join concurring opinion brother white case capital punishment cruel unusual eighth fourteenth amendments held case use particular sentencing procedures never previously held unfair due process clause case death sentence imposed convert sentence cruel unusual punishment prohibition eighth amendment relates character punishment process imposed therefore affirm judgment florida