brown warden sanders argued october decided january convicting respondent sanders inter alia murder jury found four special circumstances rendered death eligible cal penal code ann penalty phase jury instructed consider list sentencing factors including circumstances crime existence special circumstances found true sentenced death state invalidated two special circumstances direct appeal nonetheless affirmed conviction sentence federal district subsequently denied sanders habeas relief rejecting claim jury consideration invalid special circumstances rendered death sentence unconstitutional reversing ninth circuit applied rules weighing see stringer black rather see zant stephens found sanders unconstitutionally deprived individualized death sentence held requirement limit class murderers death penalty may applied furman georgia per curiam usually met trier fact finds least one statutory eligibility factor either guilt penalty phase narrowing requirement satisfied sentencer must determine whether eligible defendant receive death penalty many channel function specifying aggravating factors sometimes identical eligibility factors weighed mitigating considerations answering question confronted happens sentencer imposes death penalty finding valid eligibility factor scheme another eligibility factor later held invalid set forth different rules weighing weighing state sentencer consider aggravation specified eligibility factors sentencer relied eligibility factor later invalidated sentencer erroneously invited count invalid factor weighing favor death thus skewing weighing process stringer supra automatic skewing necessarily occur state however permitted sentencer consider aggravating factors different addition eligibility factors scheme seems needlessly complex incapable providing full range variations henceforth guided following rule invalidated sentencing factor whether eligibility factor render sentence unconstitutional reason adding improper element aggravation scale weighing process unless one sentencing factors enables sentencer give aggravating weight facts circumstances pp jury consideration invalid special circumstances sanders case gave rise constitutional violation california special circumstances listed eligibility factors designed satisfy furman narrowing requirement jury finds existence one circumstances must take account separate list sentencing factors including circumstances crime factor factor effect rendering specified factors nonexclusive thus making california prior terminology state setting aside dichotomy applying direct analysis set two four special circumstances invalidated remaining two sufficient satisfy furman narrowing requirement alone rendered sanders death eligible moreover facts circumstances admissible prove invalid eligibility factors also properly adduced aggravating facts circumstances circumstances crime sentencing factor even direction consider existence special circumstances found true placed special emphasis upon facts circumstances relevant invalid factors impact fairly regarded constitutional defect sentencing process zant supra pp reversed remanded scalia delivered opinion roberts kennedy thomas joined stevens filed dissenting opinion souter joined breyer filed dissenting opinion ginsburg joined jill brown warden petitioner ronald sanders writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit january justice scalia delivered opinion consider circumstances invalidated sentencing factor render death sentence unconstitutional reason adding improper element aggravation scale jury weighing process respondent ronald sanders companion invaded home dale boender bound blindfolded girlfriend janice allen victims struck head heavy blunt object allen died blow sanders convicted murder attempt murder boender robbery burglary attempted robbery sanders jury found four special circumstances california law independently rendered eligible death penalty see cal penal code ann west supp trial moved penalty phase jury instructed consider list sentencing factors relating sanders background nature crime one circumstances crime defendant convicted present proceeding existence special circumstances found true west jury sentenced sanders death direct appeal california declared invalid two four special circumstances found jury nonetheless affirmed sanders death sentence relying decision zant stephens said upheld death penalty judgment despite invalidation one several aggravating factors people sanders cal affirmed conviction sentence respects denied certiorari sanders california sanders filed petition writ habeas corpus pursuant district eastern district california arguing relevant jury consideration invalid special circumstances rendered death sentence sanders exhausted various state remedies district denied relief appeals ninth circuit reversed sanders woodford concluded california erroneously believed apply rule zant stephens applicable nonweighing uphold verdict despite invalidation two special circumstances upholding special circumstances citations omitted finding california weighing state applying rules announced see stringer black ninth circuit concluded california courts uphold sanders death sentence finding jury use invalid special circumstances harmless beyond reasonable doubt independently reweighing sentencing factors since continued state courts done neither sanders unconstitutionally deprived individualized death sentence granted certiorari ii since furman georgia per curiam required limit class murderers death penalty may applied narrowing requirement usually met trier fact finds least one statutorily defined eligibility factor either guilt penalty phase see tuilaepa california narrowing requirement satisfied sentencer called upon determine whether defendant thus found eligible death penalty fact receive channel function specifying aggravating factors sometimes identical eligibility factors weighed mitigating considerations issue line cases confront happens sentencer imposes death penalty least one valid eligibility factor found scheme eligibility factor specified aggravating factor later held invalid answer question jurisprudence distinguished weighing terminology somewhat misleading since held capital cases sentencer must allowed weigh facts circumstances arguably justify death sentence defendant mitigating evidence see eddings oklahoma terminology adopted moreover relatively early development jurisprudence perhaps unaware great variety forms state legislation ultimately take identified weighing state aggravating factors permitted considered sentencer specified eligibility factors see parker dugger citing stat richmond lewis quoting rev stat ann since eligibility factors definition identified distinct particular aggravating features one invalid jury consider facts circumstances relevant factor aggravating capacity example relevant omnibus circumstances crime sentencing factor one present case weighing state therefore sentencer consideration invalid eligibility factor necessarily skewed balancing aggravators mitigators stringer required reversal sentence unless state appellate determined error harmless reweighed mitigating evidence valid aggravating factors ibid contrast state state permitted sentencer consider aggravating factors different addition eligibility factors automatic skewing necessarily occur never occur aggravating factors entirely different eligibility factors occur aggravating factors added eligibility factors category omnibus circumstances crime factor quite common allow facts circumstances relevant invalidated eligibility factor weighed aggravation different rubric therefore set forth different rules governing consequences invalidated eligibility factor sentencer consideration invalid eligibility factor amounts constitutional error state two situations first due process requires defendant death sentence set aside reason invalidity eligibility factor authorizes jury draw adverse inferences conduct constitutionally protected attache label factors constitutionally impermissible totally irrelevant sentencing process conduct actually militate favor lesser penalty zant per curiam scheme accurate far goes seems us needlessly complex incapable providing full range possible variations example problem gave rise jurisprudence arise sentencing factor eligibility factor later found invalid weighing process clearly prima facie skewed skewed basic reason sentencer might given weight statutorily constitutionally invalid prima facie skewing appropriate cases shown illusory reason separates weighing one aggravating factors usually omnibus factor conceivably another one made entirely proper jury consider aggravating facts circumstances underlying invalidated factor think clarify analysis simplify factors hitherto applied see supra henceforth guided following rule invalidated sentencing factor whether eligibility factor render sentence unconstitutional reason adding improper element aggravation scale weighing unless one sentencing factors enables sentencer give aggravating weight facts circumstances test justice breyer describes inquiry based solely admissibility underlying evidence post dissenting opinion presence invalid sentencing factor allowed sentencer consider evidence otherwise due process mandate reversal without regard rule apply see supra see also issue confront skewing result jury considering aggravation properly admitted evidence weighed favor death penalty see stringer hen sentencing body told weigh invalid factor decision reviewing may assume made difference thumb removed death side explained skewing occur give rise constitutional error jury given aggravating weight facts circumstances rubric valid sentencing factor iii california defendant convicted murder eligible death penalty jury finds one special circumstances listed cal penal code ann west supp true eligibility factors designed satisfy furman see people bacigalupo cal jury finds existence one special circumstances instructed take account separate list sentencing factors describing aspects defendant crime cal penal code ann west sentencing factors include said circumstances crime defendant convicted present proceeding appeals held california weighing state sentencer restricted weighing aggravation mitigation sentencer prevented considering evidence aggravation discrete factors brackets original quoting williams calderon last statement inaccurate circumstances crime factor hardly called discrete effect rendering specified factors nonexclusive thus causing california prior terminology state contrary sanders contention justice stevens views dissent mere fact sentencing factors included existence special circumstances eligibility factors found true cal penal code ann make california weighing state fact redundant purposes weighing jurisprudence way narrowed universe aggravating facts jury entitled consider determining leaving aside dichotomy proceeding direct analysis set forth earlier opinion aggravating facts circumstances invalidated factor permitted jury consider also open proper consideration one factors erroneous factor skewed sentence constitutional violation occurred specifically sanders jury found four special circumstances true murder committed defendant engaged robbery west supp committed defendant engaged burglary first second degree victim allen witness crime intentionally killed purpose preventing testimony criminal proceeding murder especially heinous atrocious cruel california set aside special circumstance state merger law instructions permitted jury find burglary thus special circumstance based sanders intent commit assault already element homicide see people wilson cal banc cal invalidated heinous atrocious cruel special circumstance previously found unconstitutionally vague citing people superior cal california noted however jury properly considered two special circumstances eligibility factors cal sufficient satisfy furman narrowing requirement alone rendered sanders eligible death penalty moreover jury consideration invalid eligibility factors weighing process produce constitutional error facts circumstances admissible establish heinous atrocious cruel eligibility factors also properly adduced aggravating facts bearing upon circumstances crime sentencing factor properly considered whether bore upon invalidated eligibility factors see cal sanders argues weighing process skewed fact jury asked consider one sentencing factors existence special circumstances eligibility factors found true cal penal code ann west sanders view placed special emphasis upon facts circumstances relevant invalid eligibility factor virtually thing happened zant georgia jury permitted evidence extenuation mitigation aggravation punishment quoting zant stephens also instructed specifically consider statutory aggravating circumstances find supported evidence instruction gave facts underlying eligibility factors special prominence yet even though one three factors defendant substantial history serious assaultive convictions later invalidated upheld sentence acknowledged erroneous instruction might caused jury give somewhat greater weight respondent prior criminal record otherwise given indeed assumed effect ibid effect merely consequence statutory label aggravating circumstanc agreed georgia impact held fairly regarded constitutional defect sentencing process ibid true jury consideration invalid special circumstances gave rise constitutional violation appeals erred ordering habeas relief judgment appeals reversed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered jill brown warden petitioner ronald sanders writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit january justice stevens justice souter joins dissenting prior cases drawn simple categorical distinction nonweighing state weighing state former sole function aggravating circumstance finding make defendant eligible death penalty see zant stephens georgia finding aggravating circumstance play role guiding sentencing body exercise discretion impose death penalty apart function narrowing class persons convicted murder eligible death penalty latter finding performs second function provides reason deciding impose sentence eligible defendant see clemons mississippi mississippi unlike georgia scheme considered zant finding aggravating factors part jury sentencing determination jury required weigh mitigating factors aggravating circumstances thus nonweighing state finding four aggravating circumstances legal significance finding three invalidation one presumptively harmless see stringer black nonweighing state long sentencing body finds least one valid aggravating factor fact also finds invalid aggravating factor infect formal process deciding whether death appropriate penalty contrast jury told weigh aggravating circumstances mitigating evidence making penalty decision four aggravators presumptively weighty three see ibid hen sentencing body told weigh invalid factor decision reviewing may assume made difference thumb removed death side scale example jury incorrectly informed finding killing heinous atrocious cruel provides reason imposing death see generally cal penal code ann west supp error may well affect jury deliberations told weigh circumstances crime existence aggravating circumstances found true west emphasis added jury may consider conclusion killing heinous separately circumstances crime underlying erroneous conclusion improperly counting nature crime twice determining whether sentence death warranted jury recognizing legislature decided heinous atrocious cruel murder without worthy death penalty may consider legislative imprimatur decision impose death therefore give greater weight improper heinousness finding circumstances crime otherwise dictate either scenario weight added death side scale one presume weight made difference jury ultimate conclusion course different weighing systems jury told specific aggravating circumstances making defendant eligible death penalty may provide reasons imposing penalty consideration invalid factor obviously prejudicial jury told may also consider circumstances crime fact california sentencing juries may consider circumstances increases likelihood consideration subsequently invalidated aggravating circumstance harmless take california weighing state category majority however decided convert distinction one focused role aggravating circumstances play jury sentencing deliberations one focused evidence jury may consider deliberations compare stringer explaining mississippi weighing state jury must weigh aggravating circumstances mitigating evidence choosing whether impose death penalty georgia nonweighing state aggravating factors specific function decision ante invalidated sentencing factor whether eligibility factor render sentence unconstitutional reason adding improper element aggravation scale weighing process unless one sentencing factors enables sentencer give aggravating weight facts circumstances omitted whether aggravating circumstance finding plays role jury decision impose death penalty nothing whether jury may separately consider crime case question presented us might well concluded error harmless see generally brecht abrahamson state merely asked us decide whether california weighing state see pet cert appeals correctly decided statutory text unambiguously answered question cf enumerating aggravating mitigating circumstances requiring trier fact impose sentence death concludes aggravating circumstances outweigh mitigating circumstances instead heeding plain language chosen modify settled law ignoring dual role played aggravating circumstances california death penalty regime decision likely complicate clarify capital sentencing jurisprudence respectfully dissent jill brown warden petitioner ronald sanders writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit january justice breyer justice ginsburg joins dissenting question us whether california approach imposing death penalty makes california weighing nonweighing state purposes determining whether apply review certain kind death case namely case death sentence rests part invalid aggravating circumstance view matter whether california weighing nonweighing state ordinary rules appellate review apply reviewing must find jury consideration invalid aggravator harmless beyond reasonable doubt regardless form state death penalty law takes understand answer one must fully understand question including somewhat misleading terminology question phrased death penalty proceedings take place two stages first stage jury must determine whether something especially wrongful aggravating defendant conduct state statutes typically list specific aggravating factors jury typically must find least one factor present defendant become eligible death penalty jury narrows class persons eligible death penalty according objective legislative definition required eighth amendment lowenfield phelps jury finds aggravating factor present defendant consequently eligible death penalty proceeds stage two stage two jury sometimes judge must determine whether sentence defendant death provide different sentence usually life imprisonment stage said divide approach weighing tell jury consider mitigating factors weigh specific aggravating factors found stage one made defendant eligible death penalty aggravating factors predominate must sentence defendant death otherwise may law tells jury weigh statutory aggravating factors typically factors considered stage one mitigating factors called weighing something misnomer jury weigh everything instead limited weighing certain statutorily defined aggravating factors identified mississippi classic example weighing state see stringer black nonweighing tell jury consider mitigating factors weigh simply statutory aggravating factors previously found stage one factors consider aggravating balance includes aggravating factors stage one eligibility list called nonweighing although might clearer call complete weighing jury weigh everything properly admissible shall continue use traditional terminology identified georgia prototypical example state adopted complete weighing approach ibid question case arises following circumstances stage one jury found several aggravating factors presence one make defendant eligible death penalty least one aggravating factors improper factor factor law forbids jury considering aggravating jury use purpose later invalidated appeal sentencing made mistake indeed mistake constitutional dimensions listed heinous atrocious cruel cal penal code ann west supp aggravating factor one several factors jury consider stage one see godfrey georgia plurality opinion mistake forbid application death penalty jury also found listed aggravating factors presence one made defendant eligible death penalty evidence sentencing jury stage two properly admitted evidence supported improper heinousness factor example also showed crime committed jury clearly entitled consider given outline problem two questions follow question one possible judge legal mistake stage one telling jury determine heinous atrocious cruel aggravator present prejudiced jury decisionmaking stage two words mistake create harmful error causing jury impose death sentence due fact told give special weight heinousness finding lower courts read opinions say nonweighing state answer must weighing state answer might yes question two given lower courts answer question one california nonweighing state reviewing assume without going error arising sentencing judge listed invalid aggravator harmless california weighing state reviewing gone determined whether error fact harmless answer question two holding lower courts misunderstood answer question one despite occasional suggestion contrary distinction little need determine whether error harmless moreover given need reliable decisionmaking death penalty issue deck missouri slip reviewing courts decide error harmful regardless form state death penalty law takes ii distinguish weighing nonweighing purposes determining whether apply analysis unrealistic impractical legally unnecessary use distinction unrealistic unrelated plausible conception capital sentencing jury actually reaches decision first consider kind error issue error improper admission evidence see infra error importance jury might attach certain admissible evidence using metaphor thumb death side scale identified error possibility randomness also bias favor death penalty stringer black employing invalid aggravating factor weighing process creates possibility randomness placing thumb death side scale thus creating risk treating defendant deserving death penalty citations alterations omitted second consider error affect decision impose death error causes harm jury given special weight finding evidence shows invalid aggravating factor jury might judge prosecutor led believe state law attaches particular importance factor indeed else state call factor aggravator permit render defendant death eligible see zant stephens recognizing statutory label arguably might caused jury give somewhat greater weight respondent prior criminal record otherwise given see also ante stevens dissenting noting jury may consider aggravating label legislative imprimatur decision impose death therefore give greater weight improper heinousness finding clemons mississippi noting prosecutor repeatedly emphasized argued heinous factor sentencing hearing remanding mississippi conduct review risk jury give greater weight stage two stage one finding aggravating factor factor turns never found first instance significant weighing state judge explicitly tell jury consider particular aggravating factor decisionmaking process risk may prove significant nonweighing state well judge may tell jury consider aggravating factor decisionmaking process difference two kinds nonweighing state jury also consider aggravating factors usually enumerated statute cf code ann judge jury shall consider mitigating circumstances aggravating circumstances otherwise authorized law following statutory aggravating circumstances may supported evidence emphasis added potential kind constitutional harm exists kinds namely jury attach special weight aggravator scale aggravator law says illustrate point consider following two statements statement one judge tells jury weighing state sentence defendant death find one following three aggravating circumstances law requires consider aggravators weigh mitigators statement two judge tells jury nonweighing state sentence defendant death find one following three aggravating circumstances law permits consider mitigating aggravating evidence including reaching decision meaningful difference two statements decisionmaking process first jury second jury differ significantly juries weigh evidence offered aggravation evidence offered mitigation cf brief criminal justice legal foundation amicus curiae reality sentencers statement one amounts harmful error prosecutor emphasized importance wrongfully listed factor statement two amount similarly harmful error instances jury might put special weight upon previous finding factor surprising commentators found unsatisfactory efforts distinguish two statements purposes see steiker steiker sober second thoughts reflections two decades constitutional regulation capital punishment harv rev different doctrinal approaches schemes difficult justify given sentencer decisionmaking process likely similar either scheme widder hanging life balance metaphor weighing penalty phase capital trial tulane rev arguing distinction largely illusion appears derived fixation literal meaning metaphor weighing remains common means describing capital sentencing process even decisions state courts rely status statutory schemes uphold death sentences resting invalid factors distinction impractical administer creates two paradigms weigh statutory aggravators weigh circumstances statutory nonstatutory aggravators many however fall somewhere two paradigms state example might set aggravating factors making defendant eligible death penalty additional set sentencing factors unrelated eligibility determination designed channel jury discretion california state requires jury take account aggravating factors sentencing factors including omnibus factor permits consideration circumstances crime cal penal code ann west many collapse stage one eligibility stage two sentence selection single proceeding jury hears evidence time permit prosecution introduce argue relevant evidence including evidence related statutory aggravators indeed one state characterized weighing state mississippi one state characterized nonweighing state virginia fall intermediate category miss code ann code ann lexis efforts classify varied schemes purposes applying analysis produce much legal heat casting little light precedents read detail require us maintain unrealistic impractical distinction discussed matter three key cases first case zant stephens considered error arose georgia nonweighing state georgia held one several statutory aggravating circumstances found jury defendant history serious assaultive criminal unconstitutionally vague jury however also found aggravators present defendant remained eligible death georgia concluded sentencing instruction unconstitutional factor though erroneous inconsequential impact jury decision regarding death penalty quoting zant stephens agreed georgia conclusion conceded label aggravating circumstance created risk jury might place much weight evidence showed aggravator indeed said statutory label might arguably caused jury give somewhat greater weight respondent prior criminal record otherwise given concluded circumstances error harmless one thing georgia statute permitted jury consider specific aggravators related stage one see another thing trial instructions place particular emphasis role statutory aggravating circumstances jury ultimate decision citation omitted fact specifically told jury facts circumstances presented ext nuation mitigation aggravation ibid finally indication either judge prosecutor tried single erroneous aggravator special weight circumstances real harm concluded possible impact fairly regarded constitutional defect sentencing process ibid zant say jury consideration improper aggravator never harmless state like georgia say jury consideration improper aggravator harmless circumstances case detailed discussion jury instructions inconsistent rule law require automatic conclusion harmless error death penalty laws like georgia see see also georgia sentencing scheme trial judge instructions case suggestion made presence one aggravating circumstance given special weight emphasis added dissent zant also clearly understood principal opinion conducted analysis opinion marshall joined brennan repeated understanding case decided two weeks later barclay florida plurality opinion upholding death sentence concluding need apply type federal analysis necessary zant second case clemons mississippi involved weighing state mississippi mississippi upheld petitioner death sentence even though jury instruction regarding one aggravating factors pressed state murder heinous atrocious cruel constitutionally invalid finding unclear whether state reweighed aggravating mitigating evidence conducted review vacated remanded mississippi conduct either procedure remand sentencing jury first instance far analysis reveals reason remanded reason thought error might harmless nothing fact mississippi weighing state cf ante rather thought error might harmful state repeatedly emphasized argued heinous factor sentencing hearing stark contrast little emphasis gave valid aggravator found jury concluded nder circumstances require detailed explanation based record us possibly agree error giving invalid heinous instruction harmless third case stringer black presented different kind question purposes teague lane rule vague aggravating circumstance violates eighth amendment apply weighing state like mississippi way applies nonweighing state like georgia answered question yes described difference mississippi system georgia system follows nonweighing state long sentencing body finds least one valid aggravating factor fact also finds invalid aggravating factor infect formal process deciding whether death appropriate penalty assuming determination state appellate invalid factor made difference jury determination constitutional violation resulting introduction invalid factor earlier stage proceedings sentencing body told weigh invalid factor decision reviewing may assume made difference thumb removed death side scale weighing process skewed constitutional analysis reweighing trial appellate level suffices guarantee defendant received individualized sentence emphasis added first sentence statement first suggestion cases submission vague aggravating circumstance jury never result constitutional error nonweighing state indeed term nonweighing state significance attached appear jurisprudence prior stringer second sentence statement less categorical first suggests state appellate make form inquiry satisfy invalidated factor made difference jury determination conclude constitutional violation ibid given errant language stringer agree ot surprisin lower courts since operated assumption different rules apply weighing review necessary former ante point simply assumption unfounded based prior cases regardless lower courts interpretation precedents think important decisions repeated stringer characterization precedents see tuggle netherland per curiam characterizing zant holding death sentence supported multiple aggravating circumstances need always set aside one aggravator found invalid emphasis added reasons stated parts supra take single ambiguous sentence dicta derive rule law unjustified cases error fact harmful deprive defendant fair reliable sentencing proceeding iii upshot require reviewing examine whether jury consideration unconstitutional aggravating factor harmful regardless whether state weighing state nonweighing state hold fact state nonweighing state may make possibility harmful error less likely excuse reviewing ensuring error fact harmless cases area require different result iv reaches somewhat similar conclusion abolish least diminish importance distinction purposes analysis surprisingly also diminishes need conduct review evidence properly admitted jury use evidence considers aggravating factors error announces must harmless see ante holding one sentencing factors enables sentencer give aggravating weight facts circumstances underlie invalidated aggravating factor reviewing need apply review common sense suggests however explicitly held problem us problem admissibility certain evidence problem emphasis given evidence state trial improper emphasis strong enough wrongly place thumb death side scale stage two sentencing said stringer necessarily implied zant held clemons believe right depart implication errant sentence stringer wrong depart without explanation clemons unanimous holding holding least two members explicitly recognized see pensinger california joined kennedy dissenting denial certiorari noting heinous instruction change mix evidence presented jury clemons fact alone support finding harmlessness reconcile holding clemons opinion makes clear issue one emphasis evidence indeed explicitly disavowed suggestion mississippi reliance heinous factor led introduction evidence otherwise admissible either guilt sentencing phases proceeding circumstances surrounding murder already aired guilt phase trial jury clearly entitled consider evidence imposing sentence entire agreed potentially improper emphasis consisted fact state repeatedly emphasized argued heinous factor sentencing hearing placing little emphasis sole valid aggravator robbery pecuniary gain see also blackmun joined marshall stevens concurring part dissenting part answer assert clemons maintains distinction envisioned zant ante citing clemons supra clemons thing although observe differences statutory schemes georgia mississippi certainly claims suggest analysis never conducted former always conducted latter rather made unremarkable statement state like georgia aggravating circumstances serve make defendant eligible death penalty determine punishment invalidation one aggravating circumstance necessarily require appellate vacate death sentence remand jury clemons supra emphasis added course implication qualifier necessarily cases jury consideration invalidated aggravating circumstance might require death sentence vacated even state like georgia sum inquiry based solely admissibility underlying evidence inconsistent previous cases explained see supra potential tilting scales toward death present even like georgia virginia permit jury consider circumstances crime may well errors issue case harmless state california ask us consider ninth circuit contrary view done given fact like respect abolish distinction light explanation kind error issue remand case require ninth circuit reconsider entire decision light considerations described footnotes sanders filed habeas petition april apply substantive review standards required antiterrorism effective death penalty act stat see lindh murphy cases frequently employed terms aggravating circumstance aggravating factor refer statutory factors determine death eligibility satisfaction furman narrowing requirement see tuilaepa california terminology becomes confusing case state employs term aggravating circumstance refer factors play different role determining defendants eligible death penalty actually receive penalty see cal penal code ann west avoid confusion opinion use term eligibility factor describe factor performs constitutional narrowing function justice breyer contends review applies weighing see post dissenting opinion strange indeed discover late stage distinction two sorts purposes reviewing invalid eligibility factors fact made difference stringer black distinction critical importance surprisingly courts appeals uniformly understood different rules apply weighing review necessary former see sanders woodford flamer delaware williams cain cases moreover flatly inconsistent requiring review types justice breyer notes post zant stephens endorse georgia holding attaching statutory label aggravating invalid eligibility factor inconsequential impact jury decision regarding death penalty internal quotation marks omitted core holding said next importantly possible impact fairly regarded constitutional defect sentencing process ibid emphasis added see also post zant must therefore read holding constitutional error harmless rejecting respondent claim constitutional error neither clemons mississippi stringer says anything contrary justice breyer points clemons discussion focused emphasis given invalid factor rather fact mississippi weighing state hardly relevant discussion analysis conducted issue passage clemons justice breyer cites says nothing analysis conducted issue addressed distinction latter question clemons maintains distinction envisioned zant see georgia state mississippi weighing state see clemons supra likewise stringer specifically distinguishes fact jury also finds invalid aggravating factor infect formal process deciding whether death appropriate penalty weighing constitutional analysis reweighing trial appellate level required ibid fact sentencer consideration invalid eligibility factor state may nonetheless amount constitutional error explains tuggle characterization zant holding death sentence supported multiple aggravating circumstances need always set aside one aggravator found invalid emphasis added cf post breyer dissenting well related comment clemons state like georgia invalidation one aggravating circumstance necessarily require appellate vacate death sentence remand jury emphasis added cf post breyer dissenting problem may present stringer black supra although mississippi courts invalidated aggravating circumstance whether murder especially heinous atrocious cruel miss code ann cum supp one specified eligibility factors see nonetheless treated mississippi weighing state since however mississippi law provided jury impose death sentence unless found existence least one statutory aggravating factor see cum supp argued additional aggravating factors converted de facto eligibility factors may distortions caused invalidated factor beyond mere addition improper aggravating element example jury instructed consider aggravating factor might actually militate favor lesser penalty zant supra see supra explains clemons mississippi supra justice breyer relies see post addressed petitioner argument mississippi arbitrarily refused order jury resentencing even though done earlier case johnson state rev remand distinguished two cases noting johnson jury permitted consider inadmissible evidence determining defendant sentence whereas clemons serious suggestion state reliance invalid factor led introduction evidence otherwise admissible either guilt sentencing phases proceeding crux distinction sentencer consideration improper evidence error distinct one issue clemons jury weighing favor death factor part calculus justice stevens argues may affected jury deliberations ways rejected theories zant stephens possibility jury coun nature crime twice post stevens dissenting instructed consider facts crime eligibility circumstances present zant jury told take account relevant circumstances also much like jury instructed consider statutory aggravating circumstances eligibility factors find supported evidence likewise jury zant might give greater weight post stevens dissenting facts underlying eligibility circumstances explicitly held effect fairly regarded constitutional defect sentencing process see infra