smith warden spisak argued october decided january ohio courts sentenced respondent spisak death denied claims direct appeal collateral review filed federal habeas petition claiming trial penalty phase instructions verdict forms unconstitutionally required jury consider mitigation factors unanimously found mitigating see mills maryland counsel inadequate closing argument deprived effective assistance counsel see strickland washington district denied petition sixth circuit accepted arguments ordered relief held state upholding mitigation jury instructions forms contrary unreasonable application clearly established federal law determined sixth circuit barred reaching contrary decision appeals erred holding instructions forms contravened mills held jury instructions verdict forms issue violated constitution read naturally told jury find particular circumstance mitigating unless jurors agreed mitigating circumstance proved exist even assuming mills sets forth pertinent clearly established federal law reviewing decision case instructions forms used differ significantly mills made clear recommend death sentence jury find unanimously aggravating factors outweighed mitigating circumstances say jury determine existence individual mitigating factor unanimously say anything even whether jury make individual determinations particular mitigating circumstance existed focused overall question balancing aggravating mitigating factors repeatedly told jury consider relevant evidence thus instructions verdict forms clearly bring either said implied constitutional error mills instructions pp similarly decision rejecting spisak claim contrary unreasonable application law clearly established strickland prevail claim spisak must show inter alia reasonable probability counsel unprofessional errors result proceeding different strickland supra even assuming closing argument inadequate respects claimed spisak finds reasonable probability better closing argument without defects made significant difference different adequate closing argument taken place following context spisak defense trial guilt phase consisted effort counsel show spisak guilty reason insanity counsel apparently hoping demonstrate spisak mentally defective condition called stand freely admitted committing three murders two shootings repeatedly expressed intention commit murders given opportunity light background following reasons assumed closing argument deficiencies raise requisite reasonable probability different result deficient closing first since sentencing phase took place immediately guilt phase jurors fresh minds government extensive graphic evidence regarding killings spisak boastful unrepentant confessions threats commit violent acts second although counsel summarize mitigating evidence great detail refer defense experts detailed testimony regarding spisak mental illness also fresh jurors minds third spisak describe mitigating factors counsel might mentioned proposes essentially consist aspects mental defect factor defense experts described finally light counsel several appeals jurors sense humanity unlikely explicit elaborate appeal mercy changed result either alone together foregoing circumstances need reach spisak claim apply claim reach conclusion even de novo review pp reversed breyer delivered opinion roberts scalia kennedy thomas ginsburg alito sotomayor joined stevens joined part iii stevens filed opinion concurring part concurring judgment keith smith warden petitioner frank spisak writ certiorari appeals sixth circuit january justice breyer delivered opinion frank spisak respondent convicted ohio trial three murders two attempted murders sentenced death filed habeas corpus petition federal claiming constitutional errors occurred trial first spisak claimed jury instructions penalty phase unconstitutionally required jury consider mitigation factors jury unanimously found mitigating see mills maryland second spisak claimed suffered significant harm result counsel inadequate closing argument penalty phase proceeding see strickland washington federal appeals accepted arguments ordered habeas relief reverse appeals ohio jury convicted spisak three murders two attempted murders cleveland state university jury recommended judge imposed death sentence ohio courts denied spisak claims direct appeal collateral review state spisak ohio per curiam state spisak wl ohio cuyahoga apr state spisak ohio per curiam spisak sought federal writ habeas corpus among claims argued sentencing phase trial violated constitution two reasons consider district denied petition spisak coyle case nd ohio apr app pet cert appeals accepted spisak two claims namely mitigation instruction claim claim spisak mitchell appeals consequently ordered district issue conditional writ habeas corpus forbidding spisak execution state ohio sought certiorari granted petition vacated appeals judgment hudson spisak remanded case consideration light two recent cases held lower federal courts properly taken account deference federal law grants determinations federal habeas review ibid see carey musladin schriro landrigan remand sixth circuit reinstated earlier opinion spisak hudson state sought certiorari granted petition reverse ii spisak first claim concerns instructions verdict forms jury received sentencing phase trial appeals held sentencing instructions unconstitutional view instructions taken together forms require juror unanimity presence mitigating factor contrary holding mills maryland supra since parties dispute ohio courts adjudicated claim considered rejected merits law permits federal reach contrary decision decision contrary involved unreasonable application clearly established federal law determined unlike appeals conclude spisak claim satisfy standard parties like appeals assume mills sets forth pertinent clearly established federal law recognizing uncertainty whether mills clearly established federal law purpose reviewing ohio opinion shall assume compare williams taylor stevens applicable date purposes determining whether federal law established conviction became final applicable date time relevant decision see state spisak ohio decided apr cert denied decided mar mills maryland supra decided june rule set forth mills based two principles first constitution forbids imposition death penalty sentencing judge jury precluded considering mitigating factor aspect defendant character record circumstances offense defendant proffers basis sentence less death quoting eddings oklahoma turn quoting lockett ohio plurality opinion second sentencing judge jury may refuse consider precluded considering relevant mitigating evidence mills quoting skipper south carolina turn quoting eddings supra applying principles held jury instructions verdict forms issue case violated constitution read naturally told jury find particular circumstance mitigating unless jurors agreed mitigating circumstance proved exist mills example defense presents evidence three potentially mitigating considerations jurors may believe first mitigating second third even one jurors believes one three mitigating considerations exists barred considering jurors disagree held constitution forbids imposition death penalty see see also mckoy north carolina mills requires juror permitted consider give effect mitigating evidence deciding whether aggravating circumstances outweigh mitigating circumstances instructions mills led reasonable juror believe contrary held sentencing proceeding violated constitution evaluating appeals determination examined jury instructions verdict forms issue mills compared used present case mills sentencing phase trial judge instructed jury fill verdict form three distinct parts section set forth list specific aggravating circumstances next spaces jury mark yes list form said based upon evidence unanimously find following aggravating circumstances marked proven aggravating circumstance marked proven emphasis added internal quotation marks omitted section ii set forth list eight potentially mitigating circumstances seven specific circumstances eighth designated next spaces jury mark yes list form said based upon evidence unanimously find following mitigating circumstances marked proven exist mitigating circumstance marked proven emphasis added internal quotation marks omitted section iii set forth overall balancing question along spaces jury mark yes said based evidence unanimously find proven mitigating circumstances marked section ii outweigh aggravating circumstances marked section emphasis added internal quotation marks omitted explaining forms judge instructed jury example told jury mark jury form concluded aggravating circumstance proved otherwise said course must answer ibid emphasis deleted instructions together forms told jury mark yes section ii list mitigating factors jury unanimously concluded particular mitigating factor proved consider weighing analysis section iii mitigating factors marked yes section ii thus found jury instructed consider ultimate weighing aggravating mitigating evidence mitigating factors jury unanimously found exist see instructions jury forms case differ significantly mills trial judge instructed jury aggravating factors consider specifications jury found proved beyond reasonable doubt guilt phase trial essentially murder committed course conduct including crimes two murders murder committed intent evade apprehension punishment another offense tr july explained concept mitigating factor listed examples including defendant mental disease defect lacked substantial capacity appreciate criminality conduct conform conduct requirements law also told jury take account mitigating consideration found relevant issue whether defendant sentenced death instructed jury state bore burden proving beyond reasonable doubt aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating factors respect procedure jury reach verdict judge told jury following ou trial jury must consider relevant evidence raised trial evidence testimony received hearing arguments counsel must determine whether beyond reasonable doubt aggravating circumstances spisak found guilty committing separate counts sufficient outweigh mitigating factors present case twelve members jury find proof beyond reasonable doubt aggravating circumstance separate count outweighs mitigating factors must return finding hand considering relevant evidence raised trial evidence testimony received hearing arguments counsel find state failed prove beyond reasonable doubt aggravating circumstances spisak found guilty committing separate counts outweigh mitigating factors proceed determine two possible life imprisonment sentences recommend judge gave jury two verdict forms aggravating factor first two forms said jury case find beyond reasonable doubt aggravating circumstance sufficient outweigh mitigating factors present jury recommend sentence death imposed verdict form read jury find aggravating circumstances sufficient outweigh mitigation factors present jury recommend defendant sentenced life imprisonment instructions forms made clear recommend death sentence jury find unanimously beyond reasonable doubt aggravating factors outweighed mitigating circumstances instructions say jury must determine existence individual mitigating factor unanimously neither instructions forms said anything even whether jury make individual determinations particular mitigating circumstance existed focused overall balancing question instructions repeatedly told jury conside relevant evidence view instructions verdict forms clearly bring either said implied circumstance mills found critical namely substantial possibility reasonable jurors upon receiving judge instructions case attempting complete verdict form instructed well may thought precluded considering mitigating evidence unless jurors agreed existence particular circumstance consequently conclude state decision upholding forms instructions contrary unreasonable application clearly established federal law determined mills add appeals found jury instructions unconstitutional additional reason instructions require jury unanimously reject death sentence considering sentencing alternatives citing maples coyle however previously held jury instructions unconstitutional reason mills says nothing matter neither parties courts referred beck alabama identified precedent setting forth rule cf jones rejecting arguably analogous claim see post stevens concurring part concurring judgment whatever legal merits rule underlying verdict forms case consider direct appeal jury instructions spisak trial contrary clearly established federal law iii spisak second claim counsel closing argument sentencing phase trial inadequate violate sixth amendment prevail spisak must show counsel representation fell objective standard reasonableness strickland reasonable probability counsel unprofessional errors result proceeding different ohio held spisak claim basis review record state spisak ohio citing inter alia strickland supra district concluded counsel constitutionally adequate job simply reasonable probability absent counsel alleged errors jury concluded balance aggravating mitigating circumstances warrant death spisak coyle app pet cert appeals however reached contrary conclusion held counsel closing argument measured objective standard reasonableness inadequate asserted reasonable probability exists adequate representation led different result quoting strickland supra responding state petition certiorari agreed review appeals terse finding reasonable probability adequate argument changed juror vote closing argument penalty phase spisak counsel described spisak killings detail acknowledged spisak admiration hitler inspired crimes portrayed spisak sick twisted demented tr july said spisak never going different ibid pointed experts testified spisak suffered degree mental illness fairly lengthy rambling disquisition decisions calling expert witnesses preparing counsel argued even spisak legally insane warrant verdict guilty reason insanity nonetheless sufficiently mentally ill lessen culpability point executed counsel also told jury weighing spisak mental illness substantial aggravating factors present case jurors draw sense pride living humane society made humane people humanity said required jury weigh evidence fairly loyal oath jurors taken uphold law spisak supporting amici say argument constitutionally inadequate overly emphasized gruesome nature killings overly emphasized spisak threats continue crimes understated facts upon experts based mental illness conclusions said little nothing possible mitigating circumstance made explicit request jury return verdict death assume present purposes spisak correct closing argument inadequate nevertheless find reasonable probability better closing argument without defects made significant difference different adequate closing argument taken place following context spisak admitted committed three murders two shootings spisak defense guilt phase trial consisted effort counsel show spisak guilty reason insanity counsel apparently hoping demonstrate spisak mentally defective condition called stand spisak testified shot killed horace rickerson timothy sheehan brian warford also admitted shot tried kill john hardaway shot coletta dartt committed crimes said follower adolf hitler spisak spiritual leader war survival aryan people july said purchased guns stockpiled ammunition war hoped create terror cleveland state university one prime targets jews system brainwashing youth spisak said february shot rickerson black rickerson made sexual advance spisak university bathroom expressed satisfaction eliminated particular threat white race july june saw stranger john hardaway train platform shot seven times looking black person kill blood atonement recent crime two white women july added felt good shooting hardaway accomplished something later felt ind bad learned hardaway survived august spisak shot coletta dartt said heard making derisive remarks us meaning nazi party later august shot killed timothy sheehan thought one jewish professors liked hang around men room seduce pervert subvert young people go july spisak added sorry murder later learned sheehan jewish like thought ibid three days later search destroy mission shot killed brian warford young black man looked like almost asleep bus shelter fulfill duty inflict maximum amount casualties enemies spisak also testified continue commit similar crimes chance said warford murder want get caught time wanted able july letter written friend called murders rickerson warford finest thing ever whole life expressed wish human submachine gun right exterminate black men watch scream twitch agony testified still guns escape jail go continue war started continue inflict maximum amount damage enemies able state replied attempting show spisak lying testimony motives crimes state contended instead shootings motivated less unusual purposes robbery see defense effort show spisak guilty reason insanity foundered trial judge refused instruct jury consider question excluded expert testimony regarding spisak mental state defense expert witness oscar markey written report diagnosing spisak suffering schizotypal personality disorder atypical psychotic disorder times unable control impulses assault july testimony somewhat ambiguous voir dire however conceded say spisak failed ohio sanity standard time murders markey made concession jury granted prosecution renewed motion exclude markey testimony instructed jury disregard testimony heard excluded defense proffered reports psychologists psychiatrists examined spisak none reports said spisak met ohio insanity standard time crimes july sentencing phase proceedings defense counsel called three expert witnesses testified spisak suffered degree mental illness sandra mcpherson clinical psychologist said spisak suffered schizotypal borderline personality disorders characterized bizarre paranoid thinking gender identification conflict emotional instability added defects substantially impair ability conform law requirements july kurt bertschinger psychiatrist testified spisak suffered schizotypal personality disorder mental illness impair reason extent substantial inability know wrongfulness substantial inability refrain markey whose testimony stricken guilt phase testified agreed experts diagnoses july light background following reasons find assumed deficiencies defense counsel closing argument raise reasonable probability deficient closing result proceeding different strickland therefore find ohio decision rejecting spisak claim unreasonable application law clearly established strickland first since sentencing phase took place immediately following conclusion guilt phase jurors fresh minds government evidence regarding killings included photographs dead bodies images formed basis defense counsel vivid descriptions crimes well spisak boastful unrepentant confessions threats commit acts violence therefore see less descriptive closing argument fewer disparaging comments spisak made significant difference similarly fresh jurors minds three defense experts testimony spisak suffered mental illness jury heard experts explain specific facts upon based conclusions well learned family background struggles gender identity jury heard experts draw connections mental illness crimes see made significant difference counsel gone beyond actual argument emphasized mental illness mitigating factor referred jury experts testimony repeating facts connections experts described spisak tell us mitigating factors counsel might mentioned proposes essentially consist aspects mental defect factor defense experts described finally light counsel several appeals jurors sense humanity used words humane people humane society times various points argument find explicit elaborate appeal mercy changed result either alone together circumstances discussed thus conclude reasonable probability adequate closing argument changed result ohio rejection spisak claim contrary unreasonable application strickland spisak contends deferential standard review apply claim ohio may reached question whether counsel closing argument caused spisak prejudice ohio summary rejection claim indicate whether rested conclusion upon finding counsel ineffective better argument made difference see state spisak ohio spisak argues circumstances federal defer state may decided question instead decide matter afresh lower federal courts rejected arguments similar spisak see hennon cooper see also weeks angelone applying standard case involving state summary denial claim though strickland claim without full briefing regarding whether applied summary decision chadwick janecka alito relying weeks holding applies state denies claim merits without giving indication reached decision see generally hertz liebman federal habeas corpus practice procedure pp ed however need decide whether deference required without deference conclusion reasons judgment appeals sixth circuit reversed ordered keith smith warden petitioner frank spisak writ certiorari appeals sixth circuit january justice stevens concurring part concurring judgment judgment appeals correctly concluded two errors occurred spisak trial violated clearly established federal law first jury instructions impermissibly required jury unanimously reject death sentence considering sentencing options second closing argument spisak counsel egregious constitutionally deficient standard nevertheless reasons set forth part iii opinion ante agree errors prejudice spisak thus entitled relief jury instructions given spisak penalty phase described opinion ante fairly read require jury first consider whether death penalty warranted whether aggravating factors outweigh mitigating factors moving consider whether instead lesser penalty one two available life sentences appropriate consistent ohio law time spisak jury told must reach decision unanimously jury instructed consequence failure agree unanimously spisak sentenced death spisak appeals described instructions acquittal first led reasonable jury believe first acquit defendant death unanimously give effect lesser penalty following prior decision davis mitchell struck virtually identical jury instructions spisak mitchell appeals concluded instructions given spisak penalty phase impermissible require jury unanimously reject death sentence considering sentencing alternatives davis explained instruction requires capital jury first unanimously reject death penalty consider life sentence precludes individual jury giving effect mitigating evidence source constitutional infirmity decided decision mills maryland reasons cogently examined justice breyer opinion ante agree mills clearly establish instructions issue unconstitutional view decision beck alabama beck held death penalty may imposed jury permitted consider verdict guilt lesser included offense evidence supported verdict internal quotation marks omitted time alabama death penalty statute consistently construed preclude lesser included offense instructions capital cases thus alabama jury given choice either convicting defendant capital crime case required impose death penalty acquitting thus allowing escape penalties alleged participation crime unique features alabama capital punishment beck jury believed either convict beck thus sending death acquit thus setting free jury presented third option convicting noncapital offense thus ensuring receive substantial punishment receive death penalty concluded false choice jury death acquit introduce level uncertainty unreliability factfinding process tolerated capital case words difficulty alabama statute interjects irrelevant considerations factfinding process diverting jury attention central issue whether state satisfied burden proving beyond reasonable doubt defendant guilty capital crime thus one hand unavailability third option convicting lesser included offense may encourage jury convict impermissible reason belief defendant guilty serious crime punished hand apparently mandatory nature death penalty may encourage acquit equally impermissible reason whatever crime defendant deserve death although beck dealt instructions reach holding limited third option discussed beck plainly life sentence moreover unusual features alabama capital sentencing scheme collapsed guilt penalty phases jury judge concern beck presenting jury two options death punishment introduced risk arbitrariness error deliberative process constitution abide capital context see spaziano florida goal beck rule words eliminate distortion factfinding process created jury forced choice capital murder innocence held therefore jury must given meaningful opportunity consider embrace equivalent evidence supports option jury instructions used spisak penalty phase interposed jury false choice holding beck prohibits requiring spisak jury decide first whether state met burden respect death sentence reach decision unanimously instructions deprived jury meaningful opportunity consider third option namely life sentence indeed instructions every bit pernicious issue beck led individual jurors falsely believe failure agree might resulted new trial event give effect determination life sentence appropriate unless first convinced peers jury reject death sentence admittedly spisak never identified beck source constitutional infirmity issue case courts cite rely upon spisak consistently pressed argument terms wholly consistent beck direct appeal contended example severely prejudiced erroneous jury forms jurors never informed happen unable reach unanimous decision may led irreparable speculation failed agree frank spisak freed new trial sentencing hearing improper speculation may led agreement death go along majority jury instructed unable unanimously agree death must return verdict one life sentences alternative impose life sentence exh record brief ohio untenable choice spisak describes perfectly analogous quandary discussed described beck see also extremely doubtful juries understand full implications mistrial confidence choice mistrial option ultimately lead right result thus assurance second trial end conviction defendant lesser included offense omitted spisak appeals correctly assailed jury instructions issue case view beck provides proper basis clearly established federal law conclude instructions unconstitutional ii petitioner defends spisak counsel closing argument reasonable strategic decision draw sting prosecution argument gain credibility jury conceding weaknesses case brief petitioner agree strategy generally reasonable one indeed reasonable strategy difficult circumstances case even spisak concedes counsel faced admittedly difficult case closing argument penalty phase brief respondent surely strategy executed poorly render even reasonable trial tactics constitutionally deficient strickland washington case difficult convey thoroughly egregious counsel closing argument without reproducing entirety assessment closing lengthy rambling brief description content see ante accurately capture catastrophe counsel failed strategy suffice say argument shares far common prosecutor closing criminal defense attorney indeed argument outrageous rightly subjected prosecutor charges misconduct see brief steven lubet et al amici curiae observing counsel closing argument improper even coming prosecutor examples order presumably take sting prosecution case brief petitioner counsel described client acts vivid detail jury ou smell almost blood smell urine bathroom death smell death feel loneliness railroad platform know terror victim felt turned looked thick glasses looked muzzle gun kept spitting bullets see relatively young man cut many years live remember widow certainly remember looking children many family albums many family portraits dated many empty spaces much terror left hearts call lucky internal quotation marks omitted presumably gain credibility jury brief petitioner counsel argued client deserved sympathy actions sympathy course part consideration even certainly look sympathy demands none ladies gentlemen turn look frank spisak look good deeds done none look good thoughts none sick twisted demented never going different internal quotation marks omitted strategy really broke point counsel endeavor direct negative statements client toward express appeal contrary counsel concluded telling jury whatever going proud ibid internal quotation marks omitted take mean counsel view either outcome death life valid conclusion ibid spisak crimes seemingly unmitigated hatred motivating commission truly awful excuse lawyer duty represent client within bounds prevailing professional norms mere fact counsel laudably may strategy build rapport jury lessen impact prosecution case excuse counsel utter failure achieve either objectives closing argument short counsel argument grossly transgressed bounds constitutionally competent counsel done similar situation iii notwithstanding two serious constitutional errors agree errors entitle spisak relief justice breyer discussion part iii makes vividly clear see ante spisak conduct alienated ostracized jury crimes monstrous judgment even skillful closing arguments even one befitting clarence darrow created reasonable probability different outcome case similarly light spisak conduct jury gravity aggravating circumstances offense instructional error also harmless substantial injurious effect record brecht abrahamson accordingly concur judgment concur discussion prejudice part iii opinion footnotes ohio longer uses type jury instructions issue case ohio instructed ohio solitary juror may prevent death penalty recommendation finding aggravating circumstances case outweigh mitigating factors jurors point forward instructed state brooks ohio although brooks decision signaled change ohio capital jury instructions change state law one juror power prevent death penalty recommendation brooks see state springer ohio holding offender must sentenced life jury deadlocks thus consistent view accurate sentencing information indispensable prerequisite jury determination whether defendant shall live die gregg georgia joint opinion stewart powell stevens jj ohio high laudably improved upon accuracy ohio capital jury instructions brooks notably beck substantially predates spisak trial thus application beck obviates discussion federal law established antiterrorism effective death penalty act purposes see ante regardless accordance view expressed williams taylor opinion stevens conclude decision mills decided spisak conviction became final also available alabama law judge conducts separate proceeding jury returned conviction capital offense beck thus jury reasonably believed verdict set defendant punishment death make matters worse graphic emotionally charged descriptions spisak crimes irrelevant state law even purposes state case aggravating circumstances see state wogenstahl ohio nature circumstances offense may enter statutory weighing process side mitigation see also state johnson ohio explaining statutory aggravating circumstances narrowly construed ohio rev code ann identifying aggravating circumstances including heinous circumstances offense counsel attempt appeal jury sense humanity perhaps implicitly suggesting humane people condemn others especially mental illness death app pet cert counsel never requested life sentence behalf client