kansas carr argued october decided january kansas jury sentenced respondent sidney gleason death killing boyfriend cover robbery elderly man kansas jury sentenced respondents reginald jonathan carr brothers death joint sentencing proceeding respondents convicted various charges stemming notorious crime spree culminated brutal rape robbery kidnaping shooting five young men women kansas vacated death sentences case holding sentencing instructions violated eighth amendment failing affirmatively inform jury mitigating circumstances need proved satisfaction individual juror juror sentencing decision beyond reasonable doubt also held carrs eighth amendment right individualized capital sentencing determination violated trial failure sever sentencing proceedings held eighth amendment require courts instruct jury mitigating circumstances need proved beyond reasonable doubt pp kansas left doubt ruling based federal constitution gleason initial argument lacks jurisdiction hear case state decision rested adequate independent grounds rejected see kansas marsh pp case law support requiring instruct jury mitigating circumstances need proved beyond reasonable doubt see buchanan angelone instruction constitutionally necessary particular cases avoid confusion ambiguity instructions gives rise constitutional error reasonable likelihood jury applied challenged instruction way prevents consideration constitutionally relevant evidence boyde california bar cleared even assuming unconstitutional require defense prove mitigating circumstances beyond reasonable doubt record belies defendants contention instructions caused jurors apply standard proof instructions make clear existence aggravating circumstances conclusion outweigh mitigating circumstances must proved beyond reasonable doubt mitigating circumstances must merely found exist suggest proof beyond reasonable doubt juror reasonably speculated beyond reasonable doubt correct burden mitigating circumstances pp constitution require severance carrs joint sentencing proceedings eighth amendment inapposite defendant claim bottom evidence improperly admitted proceeding question whether allegedly improper evidence infected sentencing proceeding unfairness render jury imposition death penalty denial due process romano oklahoma light evidence presented guilt penalty phases relevant jury sentencing determination contention admission mitigating evidence one carr brother infected jury consideration sentence amount denial due process beyond pale presumes jury followed instructions give separate consideration defendant bruton distinguished joint proceedings permissible often preferable joined defendants criminal conduct arises single chain events buchanan kentucky limiting instructions like given carrs proceeding often suffice cure risk prejudice zafiro might arise codefendants antagonistic mitigation theories improper vacate death sentence based pure speculation fundamental unfairness rather reasoned judgment romano supra extravagant speculation lead conclusion supposedly prejudicial evidence rendered carr brothers joint sentencing proceeding fundamentally unfair acts almost inconceivable cruelty depravity described excruciating detail sole survivor two days relived wichita massacre jury pp reversed remanded scalia delivered opinion roberts kennedy thomas ginsburg breyer alito kagan joined sotomayor filed dissenting opinion opinion notice opinion subject formal revision publication preliminary print reports readers requested notify reporter decisions washington typographical formal errors order corrections may made preliminary print goes press nos writs certiorari kansas january justice scalia delivered opinion kansas vacated death sentences sidney gleason brothers reginald jonathan carr gleason killed one boyfriend cover robbery elderly man carrs notorious wichita crime spree culminated brutal rape robbery kidnaping shooting five young men women first consider whether constitution required sentencing courts instruct juries mitigating circumstances need proved beyond reasonable doubt second whether constitution required severance carrs joint sentencing proceedings less one month sidney gleason paroled sentence attempted voluntary manslaughter joined conspiracy rob elderly man gleason companion cut elderly man get box cigarettes fearing female snitch gleason cousin damien thompson set kill mikiala martinez gleason shot killed martinez boyfriend gleason thompson drove martinez rural location thompson strangled five minutes shot chest gleason standing providing gun final shot state ultimately charged gleason capital murder killing martinez boyfriend premeditated murder boyfriend aggravating kidnaping martinez attempted murder aggravated robbery elderly man criminal possession firearm convicted counts except attempted murder charge jury also found state proved beyond reasonable doubt existence four aggravating circumstances unanimously agreed sentence death december brothers reginald jonathan carr set crime spree culminating wichita night december reginald carr unknown man carjacked andrew schreiber held gun head forced make cash withdrawals various atms night december brothers followed linda ann walenta cellist wichita symphony home orchestra practice one approached vehicle said needed help rolled window pointed gun head shifted reverse escape shot three times ran back brother car fled scene one gunshots severed walenta spine died one month later result injuries night december brothers burst triplex birchwood roommates jason brad aaron lived jason girlfriend holly heather friend aaron also house armed handguns golf club brothers forced five jason bedroom demanded strip naked later ordered bedroom closet took holly heather bedroom demanded perform oral sex digitally penetrate carrs looked barked orders forced men sex holly heather yelled men shot sex women holly fearing jason life performed oral sex closet ordered brothers jonathan snatched holly closet ordered digitally penetrate set gun knees floor raped raped heather reginald took brad jason holly aaron various atms withdraw cash victims returned house torture continued holly closet fright jonathan found engagement ring hidden bedroom jason keeping surprise holly pointing gun jason jason identify ring holly sitting nearby closet reginald took holly closet said going shoot yet raped floor strewn boxes christmas decorations forced turn around ejaculated mouth forced swallow nearby bathroom jonathan raped heather raped holly three hours mayhem began brothers decided time leave house attempted put five victims trunk aaron honda civic finding fit jammed three young men trunk directed heather front car holly jason pickup truck driven reginald vehicles arrived field instructed jason brad still naked aaron kneel snow holly cried oh god going shoot us holly heather ordered kneel snow holly went jason side heather aaron holly heard first shot heard aaron plead brothers shoot heard second shot heard screams heard third shot fourth felt blow fifth shot head remained kneeling kicked fall snow ran pickup truck survived hair clip fastened hair night deflected bullet went jason took sweater scrap clothing brothers let wear tied around head stop bleeding eye rushed brad aaron heather spotting house white christmas lights distance holly started running toward help naked skull shattered without shoes snow fences time car passed nearby road feared brothers returning camouflaged lying snow made house rang doorbell knocked man opened door relayed quickly events night minutes later dispatcher fearing live holly lived retold night events jury investigators also testified brothers returned birchwood house leaving five friends dead ransacked place valuables good measure beat holly dog nikki death golf club state charged brothers counts including murder rape sodomy kidnaping burglary robbery jury returned separate guilty verdicts convicted reginald one count kidnaping aggravated robbery aggravated battery criminal damage property schreiber carjacking one count felony murder walenta shooting jonathan acquitted counts related schreiber carjacking convicted felony murder walenta shooting birchwood murders jury convicted brother counts capital murder count attempted murder counts aggravated kidnaping counts aggravated robbery counts rape attempted rape counts aggravated criminal sodomy count aggravated burglary burglary count theft count cruelty animals jury also convicted reginald three counts unlawful possession firearm state sought death penalty four birchwood murders brothers sentenced together state relied evidence including holly two days testimony evidence four aggravating circumstances defendants knowingly purposely killed created great risk death one person committed crimes purpose receiving money items monetary value committed crimes prevent arrest prosecution committed crimes especially heinous atrocious cruel manner hearing brother case mitigation jury issued separate verdicts death reginald jonathan found unanimously state proved existence four aggravating circumstances beyond reasonable doubt aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances justifying four separate verdicts death brother murders jason brad aaron heather app pp kansas vacated death penalties cases held instructions used gleason carrs sentencing violated eighth amendment failed affirmatively inform jury mitigating circumstances need proved satisfaction individual juror juror sentencing decision beyond reasonable doubt gleason reginald carr jonathan carr without instruction according jury left speculate correct burden proof mitigating circumstances reasonable jurors might believed consider mitigating circumstances proven beyond reasonable doubt concluded might caused jurors exclude relevant mitigating evidence consideration ibid kansas also held carrs death sentences vacated trial failure sever sentencing proceedings thereby violating brothers eighth amendment right individualized capital sentencing determination according joint trial inhibited jury individualized consideration jonathan family characteristics tending demonstrate future dangerousness shared brother brother visible handcuffs prejudiced jury consideration sentence reginald prejudiced according kansas jonathan portrayal corrupting older brother moreover reginald prejudiced brother sister testified thought reginald admitted shooter later backtracked testified remember know shot ibid kansas opined presumption jury followed instructions consider defendant separately defeated logic defendants joint upbringing maelstrom family influence interactions one another simply amenable orderly separation analysis kansas found unable say death verdict unattributable least part error granted certiorari ii first turn kansas contention eighth amendment required courts instruct jury mitigating circumstances need proved beyond reasonable doubt considering merits contention consider gleason challenge jurisdiction according gleason kansas decision rests adequate independent grounds argument familiar one rejected kansas marsh like defendant case gleason urges decision rests rule kansas law announced state kleypas per curiam rule later reiterated state scott per curiam stated marsh kleypas rested federal law relevant passage scott rested kleypas discussion constitutional rule jurors need agree mitigating circumstances see scott supra kansas opinion case acknowledged much saying statements kleypas implicate broader eighth amendment principle prohibiting barriers preclude sentencer consideration relevant mitigating evidence kansas opinion leaves room doubt relying federal constitution stated instruction required protects capital defendant eighth amendment right individualized sentencing absence instruction implicat ed gleason right individualized sentencing eighth amendment vacatur gleason death sentence onsequen ce eighth amendment error emphasis added reason criticism leveled dissent misdirected generally none business kansas vacated gleason carrs death sentences grounds marsh scalia concurring decidedly kansas time invalidates death sentences says federal constitution requires review far undermining state autonomy possible way vindicate ibid correct state federal errors return power state people ibid state courts may experiment want constitutions often wake decisions see sutton san antonio independent school district rodriguez aftermath rev state experiment federal constitution expect elude review long victory goes criminal defendant turning blind eye cases change uniform land crazy quilt marsh supra enable state courts blame unpopular reprieve horrible criminals upon federal constitution fact turn merits kansas conclusion eighth amendment requires courts kansas affirmatively inform jury mitigating circumstances need proven beyond reasonable doubt approaching question abstract without reference case law doubt whether even possible apply standard proof determination selection phase proceeding possible determination eligibility phase purely factual determination facts justifying death set forth kansas statute either exist one require finding exist made beyond reasonable doubt whether mitigation exists however largely judgment call perhaps value call one juror might consider mitigating another might course ultimate question whether mitigating circumstances outweigh aggravating circumstances mostly question mercy quality know strained mean nothing think tell jury defendants must deserve mercy beyond reasonable doubt must deserve possible course instruct jury facts establishing mitigating circumstances need proved preponderance leaving judgment whether facts indeed mitigating whether outweigh aggravators jury discretion without standard proof hold constitution requires determination divided factual component judgmental component former accorded instruction doubt whether produce anything jury confusion last analysis jurors accord mercy deem appropriate withhold mercy case law designed achieve event case law require capital sentencing courts affirmatively inform jury mitigating circumstances need proved beyond reasonable doubt ibid buchanan angelone upheld death sentence even though trial failed provide jury express guidance concept mitigation likewise weeks angelone reaffirmed never held state must structure particular way manner juries consider mitigating evidence rejected contention constitutionally deficient instruct jurors mitigating circumstance find evidence support without additional guidance equally unavailing contention even instruction mitigating evidence need proven beyond reasonable doubt always required constitutionally necessary cases avoid confusion ambiguity instructions gives rise constitutional error reasonable likelihood jury applied challenged instruction way prevents consideration constitutionally relevant evidence boyde california emphasis added alleged confusion stemming jury instructions used defendants sentencings clear bar meager possibility confusion enough ibid initial matter defendants argument rests assumption unconstitutional require defense prove mitigating circumstances beyond reasonable doubt assuming without deciding case record belies defendants contention instructions caused jurors apply standard proof defendants focus upon following instruction state burden prove beyond reasonable doubt one aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances found exist app pet cert instr juxtaposition aggravating mitigating circumstances goes argument caused jury speculate mitigating circumstances must also proved beyond reasonable doubt seems us quite opposite instruction makes clear existence aggravating circumstances conclusion outweigh mitigating circumstances must proved beyond reasonable doubt mitigating circumstances hand must merely found exist description mitigating circumstances found exist contained three instructions app pet cert instrs emphasis added unsurprisingly since recites kansas statute see stat ann found exist certainly suggest proof beyond reasonable doubt instructions whole distinguish clearly aggravating mitigating circumstances state burden prove beyond reasonable doubt one aggravating circumstances jury must decide unanimously state met burden app pet cert instrs emphasis added mitigating circumstances hand need found members jury considered individual juror arriving sentencing decision instr instructions say defense counsel bears burden proving facts constituting mitigating circumstance beyond reasonable doubt make much sense since one mitigating circumstances curiously mercy simply factual determination reject kansas decision jurors left speculate correct burden proof mitigating circumstances reasons described juror reasonably speculated mitigating circumstances must proved particular standard let alone beyond reasonable doubt reality jurors pars instructions subtle shades meaning way lawyers might boyde supra instructions repeatedly told jurors consider mitigating factor meaning aspect defendants background circumstances offense jurors misunderstood instructions prevent consideration constitutionally relevant evidence iii turn next contention joint proceeding carrs cases violated defendants eighth amendment right individualized sentencing determination kansas agreed defendants joint sentencing proceeding one defendant mitigating evidence put thumb death scale violation eighth amendment rights ibid accepted reginald contention prejudiced brother portrayal corrupting older brother agreed reginald prejudiced brother sister equivocated whether reginald admitted shooter reginald abandoned implausible theory prejudice contends state likely introduced testimony sentenced alone brief respondent jonathan asserted prejudiced evidence associating dangerous older brother caused jury perceive incurable speculate evidence assertedly prejudicial inadmissible severed proceedings kansas law kansas also launched broader attack joint proceedings contending joinder rendered impossible jury consider carrs relative moral culpability determine individually whether entitled mercy whatever merits defendants procedural objections shoehorn eighth amendment prohibition cruel unusual punishments amicus curiae intimates eighth amendment inapposite defendant claim bottom jury considered evidence admitted severed proceeding joint trial clouded jury consideration mitigating evidence like mercy brief held romano oklahoma role eighth amendment establish special federal code evidence governing admissibility evidence capital sentencing proceedings rather due process clause wards introduction unduly prejudicial evidence rende trial fundamentally unfair payne tennessee see also brown sanders test prescribed romano constitutional violation attributable evidence improperly admitted proceeding whether evidence infected sentencing proceeding unfairness render jury imposition death penalty denial due process mere admission evidence might otherwise admitted severed proceeding demand automatic vacatur death sentence light evidence presented guilt penalty phases relevant jury sentencing determination contention admission mitigating evidence one brother infected jury consideration sentence amount denial due process beyond pale begin instructed jury must give separate consideration defendant entitled sentence decided evidence law applicable evidence penalty phase limited one defendant considered defendant app pet cert instr gave instructions aggravating mitigating circumstances instrs instructed jury consider individual particular defendant using four separate verdict forms defendant one murdered occupant birchwood house instr app presume jury followed instructions considered defendant separately deciding impose sentence death brutal murders romano supra contrary conclusion kansas presumption jurors followed instructions defeated logic untenable carrs implausibly liken prejudice resulting joint sentencing proceeding prejudice infecting joint trial bruton prosecution admitted hearsay evidence codefendant confession implicating defendant particular violation defendant confrontation rights incriminating evidence persuasive sort ineradicable practical matter jury mind justified described narrow departure presumption jurors follow instructions richardson marsh declined extend exception continued apply presumption instructions regarding mitigating evidence proceedings see weeks reason think jury follow instruction consider defendants separately case joint proceedings permissible often preferable joined defendants criminal conduct arises single chain events joint trial may enable jury arrive reliably conclusions regarding guilt innocence particular defendant assign fairly respective responsibilities defendant sentencing buchanan kentucky codefendants might antagonistic theories mitigation zafiro suffice overcome kansas interest promoting reliability consistency judicial process buchanan supra limiting instructions like used carrs sentencing proceeding often suffice cure risk prejudice zafiro supra citing richardson supra forbid joinder proceedings perversely increase odds wanto freakis imposition death sentences gregg georgia joint opinion stewart powell stevens better two defendants together committed crimes placed fates determined single jury improper vacate death sentence based pure speculation fundamental unfairness rather reasoned judgment romano supra extravagant speculation lead conclusion supposedly prejudicial evidence rendered carr brothers joint sentencing proceeding fundamentally unfair beyond reason think jury death verdicts caused identification reginald corrupter jonathan corrupted jury viewing reginald handcuffs sister retracted statement reginald fired final shots none mattered defendants acts almost inconceivable cruelty depravity described excruciating detail holly relived jury two days wichita massacre joint sentencing proceedings render sentencing proceedings fundamentally unfair iv granted state petition writ certiorari carrs cases declined review whether confrontation clause amdt requires defendants allowed witnesses whose statements recorded police reports referred state proceedings kansas make admission statements basis vacating death sentences merely caution ed resentencing proceedings testimonial statements omitted confident regarding police reports slightest effect upon sentences see delaware van arsdall judgments kansas reversed cases remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion ordered sotomayor dissenting notice opinion subject formal revision publication preliminary print reports readers requested notify reporter decisions washington typographical formal errors order corrections may made preliminary print goes press nos writs certiorari kansas january justice sotomayor dissenting respectfully dissent believe cases ever reviewed see reason intervene cases like plenty reasons kansas violated federal constitutional right anything state overprotected citizens based interpretation state federal law reasons ably articulated predecessors colleagues worry cases like prevent serving necessary laboratories experimenting best guarantee defendants fair trial dismiss writs improvidently granted kansas vacated three death sentences sentences sidney gleason carr brothers reginald jonathan constitutional errors penalty phases trials three men tried jury instructions include language previously mandated kansas instructions state kansas statutory scheme mitigating circumstances need proven individual juror satisfaction beyond reasonable doubt sidney gleason reginald carr jonathan carr found instructions therefore undermined kansas state law created reasonable likelihood jury applied challenged instruction way prevents consideration mitigating evidence required federal constitution quoting boyde california kansas also vacated carr brothers death sentences jointly tried penalty phase concluded brother particular case mitigation compromised brother case therefore trying jointly violated eighth amendment right individualized sentencing error harmless kansas found especially damning subset evidence presented might admitted separate penalty proceedings kansas attorney general requested certiorari alleging best serve state interest federal intervene correct kansas complied even though suggestion kansas violated federal constitutional right majority reverses kansas points ii even state wrongly decided important question federal law sup rule often decline grant certiorari instead reserving grants instances benefits hearing case outweigh costs colleagues predecessors effectively set forth many costs granting certiorari cases state courts grant relief criminal defendants risk issuing opinions strictly advisory may little effect lower able reinstate holding matter state law florida powell stevens dissenting expend resources cases concern state citizens michigan long stevens dissenting intervene intrastate dispute state executive judiciary rather entrusting state structure government sort see coleman thompson blackmun dissenting lose valuable data best methods protecting constitutional rights particular concern cases like federal constitutional question turns reasonable likelihood jury confusion empirical question best answered evidence many state courts cf arizona evans ginsburg dissenting cases demonstrate yet another cost granting certiorari correct state overprotection federal rights explaining federal constitution protect particular right natural buttress conclusion explaining right important risks discouraging adopting valuable procedural protections even matter state law state experimentation best guarantee fair trial criminal defendants essential aspect federalism scheme see linde first things first rediscovering bill rights balt rev federal constitution guarantees minimum slate protections provide individual rights constitutional floor see brennan bill rights revival state constitutions guardians constitutional rights rev role particularly important criminal arena state courts preside many millions criminal cases federal counterparts likely identify protections important fair trial compare statistics project examining work state courts analysis state caseloads dept justice bureau justice statistics federal justice statistics pp tables majority opinion cases illustrates unnecessary grant certiorari lead unexpected costs disrupting sort state experimentation take first question presented cases majority actual holding eighth amendment require instruction specifying mitigating factors need proven beyond reasonable doubt ante eighth amendment nothing say whether instruction wise question state law policy majority nonetheless uses considerable influence call question logic specifying burden proof mitigating circumstances majority claims assessing aggravating factor purely factual determination assessing mitigation involves judgment call perhaps value call thus amenable burdens proof ante short dividing mitigating factor factual component judgmental component issuing instructions former majority wonders whether even possible apply standard proof determination ibid observation experience needs juries majority denigrates many specify burden proof existence mitigating factors matter state law presumably belief fact possible brief respondent pp even recommend instruction specifying mitigating factors need proven beyond reasonable doubt see idaho jury icji jury deliberations jury crim majority discussion severance likewise short circuits state experimentation majority content hold eighth amendment strictly speaking require severance capital penalty proceedings instead goes explain joint capital sentencing proceedings permissible federal constitution fact preferable policy matter better two defendants together committed crimes placed fates determined single jury ante majority even intimates severed proceedings may worse defendants forbid joinder proceedings perversely increase odds freakis imposition death sentences ibid quoting gregg georgia joint opinion stewart powell stevens much ohio georgia mississippi sentencing regimes routinely allow severance phases capital proceedings see code ann upon request defendants must tried separately capital cases miss code ann ohio rev code ann lexis capital defendants shall tried separately unless good cause shown joint trial evidence three adopted severance regime based misunderstanding eighth amendment without empirical foundation basis experience majority asserts regimes may increase odds arbitrariness majority claims power state people explain federal constitution require particular result ante emphasis deleted able pass solely federal constitutional ground wisdom state holding equivalent question though pretends sends back cases like one clean slate rarely fully erases thoughts virtues procedural protection issue placing thumb scale state adopting even matter state law procedural protections constitution require risks turning federal constitution ceiling rather floor protection individual liberties iii see reason three cases kansas warranted intervention given costs described described predecessors colleagues see supra federal right compromised nobody disputes state kansas matter state law reach outcome perhaps importantly questions granted certiorari turn specific features kansas sentencing scheme result kansas opinion unlikely much salience kansas wrong wrong opinion subvert federal law broader scale first kansas decision jury instruction question aimed preserv state statute favorable distinction protec capital defendant eighth amendment right individualized sentencing ensuring jurors precluded considering relevant mitigating evidence emphasis added kansas decision thus informed combination federal state considerations decision expressly relies state unique statutory scheme kansas limited potential influencing absurd conclude juror unfamiliar mechanics law might confused kansas jury instructions almost always mention aggravating mitigating instructions breath kansas opinion rested largely specific language ordering state instructions jury instructions may less likely effect moreover decision made unique backdrop trial courts failure implement kansas earlier demands change jury instructions capital cases case kansas considered jury instructions insufficiently confusing reverse judgment sufficiently confusing demand higher clarity going forward ny instruction dealing consideration mitigating circumstances state need proved satisfaction individual juror juror sentencing decision beyond reasonable doubt mitigating circumstances need found members jury order considered individual juror sentencing decision state kleypas kansas pattern instructions revised include consideration inexplicably noted gleason consideration kansas reiterated two requirements jury instruction see state scott pattern instructions finally changed see gleason carr brothers tried delay kansas initial admonition jury instructions finally edited kansas opinion gleason may rested part broader eighth amendment principle also rested lower courts failure give instructions reflecting kansas repeated recognition required content given context kansas decision particularly unlikely undermine federal constitution goes severance question kansas decision depended especially damning subset aggravating evidence presented may admitted severed proceeding kansas capital punishment scheme evidentiary rules evidence one brother bad influence ibid difference joint penalty phase severed penalty phase may limited significance evidence may admitted joint severed proceedings cf brown sanders palmer death penalty complete guide federal state laws ed thus seems unlikely kansas opinion proven instructive even though couched language federal constitution iv may course rare cases certiorari warranted state prosecutor alleges state highest overprotected criminal defendant circumstances may include state decision favor criminal defendant implicates another constitutional right see nebraska press assn stuart state indicates hostility applying federal precedents florida meyers per curiam stevens dissenting state grant relief particularly likely destabilize significantly interfere federal policy none circumstances comparable interest present cases carr brothers committed acts almost inconceivable cruelty depravity majority understandably anxious ensure receive deserts anxious fact reaches address question grant certiorari ante believe interest justifies correcting kansas error also calling question procedures standard adage teaches hard cases make bad law see northern securities holmes dissenting fear cases suggest corollary shocking cases make much law believe granted certiorari respectfully dissent footnotes together kansas carr kansas gleason also certiorari footnotes facts portion opinion come kansas parties briefs facts portion opinion come kansas witness testimony see tr tr tr tr tr relevant instructions carrs sentencing proceedings materially indistinguishable see app pet cert pp jonathan also alleges prejudiced jury witnessing brother handcuffs brother requested remain visible penalty phase commenced allegation mystifying brother handcuffs visible restraints likely caused jury see jonathan less dangerous two footnotes leave aside merits majority questionable distinction though see jury conclusion carr brothers committed crime especially heinous atrocious cruel manner one aggravating circumstances found carr brothers jury involved less judgment value call mitigating circumstances alleged see