enmund florida argued march decided july petitioner codefendant jury trial florida convicted murder robbery two elderly persons farmhouse sentenced death florida affirmed held although record supported inference petitioner person car parked side road near farmhouse time killings waiting help robbers killers codefendant another escape enough florida law make petitioner constructive aider abettor hence principal murder upon death penalty imposed thus irrelevant petitioner challenge death sentence kill present killings whether intended victims killed anticipated lethal force might used effectuate robbery escape held imposition death penalty upon petitioner inconsistent eighth fourteenth amendments pp current judgments legislatures juries prosecutors weigh heavily side rejecting capital punishment crime issue small minority eight allow death penalty imposed solely defendant somehow participated robbery course murder committed take attempt intend take life intend lethal force employed evidence overwhelming american juries repudiated imposition death penalty crimes petitioner statistics demonstrating juries perhaps prosecutors consider death disproportionate penalty fall within petitioner category pp robbery serious crime deserving serious punishment crime grievous affront humanity adequate response may penalty death gregg georgia death penalty unique severity irrevocability excessive penalty robber take human life focus must petitioner culpability committed robbery killings kill intend kill thus culpability different robbers killed impermissible state treat alike attribute petitioner culpability killed victims pp neither deterrence capital crimes retribution sufficient justification executing petitioner unlikely threat death penalty murder measurably deter one petitioner kill intend kill retribution depends degree petitioner culpability must limited participation robbery putting death avenge two killings commit intend commit cause measurably contribute retribution end ensuring criminal gets deserts pp white delivered opinion brennan marshall blackmun stevens joined brennan filed concurring opinion post filed dissenting opinion burger powell rehnquist joined post james liebman argued cause pro hac vice petitioner briefs william mclain jack greenberg james nabrit iii joel berger john charles boger deborah fins anthony amsterdam lawrence kaden assistant attorney general florida argued cause pro hac vice respondent brief jim smith attorney general george georgieff raymond marky assistant attorneys general daniel popeo paul kamenar nicholas calio filed brief washington legal foundation amicus curiae urging affirmance robert corbin attorney general arizona william schaffer iii bruce ferg assistant attorneys general filed brief arizona et al amici curiae justice white delivered opinion facts case taken principally opinion florida follows april approximately thomas eunice kersey aged robbed fatally shot farmhouse central florida evidence showed sampson jeanette armstrong gone back door kersey house asked water overheated car kersey came house sampson armstrong grabbed pointed gun told jeanette armstrong take money kersey cried help wife came house gun shot jeanette armstrong wounding sampson armstrong perhaps jeanette armstrong shot killed kerseys dragged kitchen took money fled two witnesses testified drove past kersey house saw large car parked beside road yards house man sitting car another witness testified approximately saw ida jean shaw petitioner wife jeanette armstrong mother driving yellow buick vinyl top belonged petitioner earl enmund enmund passenger car along unidentified woman witness saw car return high rate speed enmund driving ida jean shaw front seat one two people car lying across back seat enmund sampson armstrong jeanette armstrong indicted murder robbery kerseys enmund sampson armstrong tried together prosecutor maintained closing argument sampson armstrong killed old people record judge instructed jury killing human engaged perpetration attempt perpetrate offense robbery murder first degree even though premeditated design intent kill app went instruct order sustain conviction first degree murder engaging perpetration attempted perpetration crime robbery evidence must establish beyond reasonable doubt defendant actually present actively aiding abetting robbery attempted robbery unlawful killing occurred perpetration attempted perpetration robbery florida affirmed enmund conviction sentences found direct evidence trial earl enmund present back door kersey home plan rob elderly couple led murdered however rejected petitioner argument found guilty murder florida rule explained interaction felony murder rule law principals combine make felon generally responsible lethal acts quoting adams state cert denied although petitioner convicted murder accessory fact rather principal florida reasoned evidence degree participation jury likely inference person car side road near scene crimes jury concluded hundred feet away waiting help robbers escape kerseys money evidence therefore sufficient find appellant principal second degree constructively present aiding abetting commission crime robbery conclusion supports verdicts murder first degree basis felony murder portion section granted enmund petition certiorari presenting question whether death valid penalty eighth fourteenth amendments one neither took life attempted take life intended take life ii recounted florida held record supported inference enmund person car side road time killings waiting help robbers escape enough florida law make enmund constructive aider abettor hence principal murder upon death penalty imposed thus irrelevant enmund challenge death sentence kill present killings also beside point whether intended kerseys killed anticipated lethal force might used necessary effectuate robbery safe escape concluded imposition death penalty circumstances inconsistent eighth fourteenth amendments cruel unusual punishments clause eighth amendment directed part punishments excessive length severity greatly disproportioned offenses charged weems quoting vermont field dissenting recently held punishment excessive relation crime charged coker georgia plurality opinion concluded imposition death penalty rape adult woman grossly disproportionate excessive punishment crime rape therefore forbidden eighth amendment cruel unusual punishment reaching conclusion stressed judgment informed objective factors maximum possible extent ibid accordingly looked historical development punishment issue legislative judgments international opinion sentencing decisions juries made bringing judgment bear matter proceed analyze punishment issue case similar manner coker plurality observed time last years majority authorized death punishment rape importantly reenacting death penalty laws order satisfy criteria established furman georgia three provided death penalty rape adult woman revised statutes plurality therefore concluded current judgment respect death penalty rape wholly unanimous among state legislatures obviously weighs heavily side rejecting capital punishment suitable penalty raping adult woman omitted state federal jurisdictions presently authorize death penalty eight jurisdictions authorize imposition death penalty solely participation robbery another robber takes life remaining jurisdictions felony murder capital crime eleven require culpable mental state respect homicide prerequisite conviction crime death penalty authorized make knowing intentional purposeful premeditated killing element capital murder three require proof culpable mental state short intent recklessness extreme indifference human life death penalty may imposed therefore actors felony murder subject death penalty without proof mental state proof required respect enmund either trial instructions law announced florida four additional jurisdictions permit defendant enmund put death one state flatly prohibits capital punishment cases defendant actually commit murder two jurisdictions preclude death penalty cases one defendant principal offense committed another participation relatively minor although minor constitute defense prosecution one state limits death penalty felony murders narrow circumstances involved nine remaining deal imposition death penalty vicarious felony murder capital sentencing statutes defendant may executed solely participating felony person killed defendant actually cause victim death defendant executed typically statutory aggravating circumstances present must outweigh mitigating factors sure vicarious felony murderer may sentenced death jurisdictions absent intent kill sufficient aggravating circumstances present however six nine make statutory mitigating circumstance defendant accomplice capital felony committed another person participation relatively minor making minimal participation capital felony committed another person mitigating circumstance sentencing statutes reduce likelihood person executed vicarious felony murder remaining three jurisdictions exclude felony murder lists aggravating circumstances support death sentence nine nontriggerman guilty felony murder sentenced death felony murder absent aggravating circumstances beyond felony murder thus small minority jurisdictions eight allow death penalty imposed solely defendant somehow participated robbery course murder committed even nine included defendant executed unintended felony murder sufficient aggravating circumstances present outweigh mitigating circumstances often include defendant minimal participation murder third american jurisdictions ever permit defendant somehow participated robbery murder occurred sentenced die moreover eight enacted new death penalty statutes since none authorize capital punishment circumstances current legislative judgment respect imposition death penalty defendant take life attempt take intend take life neither wholly unanimous among state legislatures coker georgia compelling legislative judgments considered coker nevertheless weighs side rejecting capital punishment crime issue society rejection death penalty accomplice liability felony murders also indicated sentencing decisions juries made previously observed jury significant reliable objective index contemporary values directly involved coker georgia supra quoting gregg georgia evidence overwhelming american juries repudiated imposition death penalty crimes petitioner first according petitioner search reported appellate decisions since cases defendant executed homicide shows executions person executed personally committed homicidal assault cases person executed another person commit homicide cases facts reported sufficient detail determine whether person executed committed homicide survey revealed cases nontriggerman felony murderer executed six executions took place contrast executions rape country decision coker georgia juries rejected death penalty cases one defendant commit homicide present killing took place participate plot scheme murder also shown petitioner survey nation population october inmates sentences death homicide sufficient data available participate fatal assault victim among sufficient information available physically present fatal assault committed prisoners included including petitioner sentenced die absent finding hired solicited someone else kill victim participated scheme designed kill victim figures florida similar felony murderers currently death row florida either found affirmed trial jury finding defendant intended life taken cases eight cases courts made finding respect intent defendant triggerman case one case enmund finding intent kill defendant triggerman state challenge analysis florida cases dissent criticizes statistics ground reveal percentage homicides charged felony murders percentage cases state sought death penalty accomplice guilty felony murder post doubt whether possible gather information rate relevant prosecutors rarely sought death penalty accomplice felony murder tend indicate prosecutors represent society interest punishing crime consider death penalty excessive accomplice felony murder fact remains aware single person convicted felony murder past quarter century kill attempt kill intend death victim executed three persons category presently sentenced die figures discounted attributing petitioner argument death unconstitutional penalty absent intent kill post observing statistics incomplete respect intent petitioner argument kill attempt kill intend kill death penalty disproportionate applied statistics cites adequately tailored demonstrate juries perhaps prosecutors well consider death disproportionate penalty fall within category iii although judgments legislatures juries prosecutors weigh heavily balance us ultimately judge whether eighth amendment permits imposition death penalty one enmund aids abets felony course murder committed others kill attempt kill intend killing take place lethal force employed concluded along legislatures juries doubt robbery serious crime deserving serious punishment however crime grievous affront humanity adequate response may penalty death gregg georgia omitted compare murder involve unjustified taking human life although may accompanied another crime robbery definition include death even serious injury another person murderer kills robber life victim murderer robbery victim life normally beyond repair coker georgia omitted said crime rape coker abiding conviction death penalty unique severity irrevocability gregg georgia supra excessive penalty robber take human life robbers commit murder subjected death penalty killed well robbed question us disproportionality death penalty murder rather validity capital punishment enmund conduct focus must culpability committed robbery shot victims insist individualized consideration constitutional requirement imposing death sentence lockett ohio omitted means must focus relevant facets character record individual offender woodson north carolina enmund kill attempt kill construed florida record us warrant finding enmund intention participating facilitating murder yet florida law death authorized penalty enmund aided abetted robbery course murder committed fundamental causing harm intentionally must punished severely causing harm unintentionally hart punishment responsibility enmund kill intend kill thus culpability plainly different robbers killed yet state treated alike attributed enmund culpability killed kerseys impermissible eighth amendment gregg georgia opinion announcing judgment observed death penalty said serve two principal social purposes retribution deterrence capital crimes prospective offenders omitted unless death penalty applied enmund position measurably contributes one goals nothing purposeless needless imposition pain suffering hence unconstitutional punishment coker georgia supra quite unconvinced however threat death penalty imposed murder measurably deter one kill intention purpose life taken instead seems likely capital punishment serve deterrent murder result premeditation deliberation fisher frankfurter dissenting person intend life taken contemplate lethal force employed others possibility death penalty imposed vicarious felony murder enter cold calculus precedes decision act gregg georgia supra omitted different likelihood killing course robbery substantial one share blame killing somehow participated felony competent observers concluded basis experience notion death frequently occurs course felony killing essential ingredient death penalty considered justifiable deterrent felony model penal code comment conclusion based three comparisons robbery statistics showed one percent robberies resulted homicide recent national crime statistics strongly support conclusion addition evidence killings rarely occur robberies fact already noted however often death occurs course felony robbery death penalty rarely imposed one vicariously guilty murder fact attenuates possible utility effective deterrence retribution justification executing enmund think much depends degree enmund culpability enmund intentions expectations actions american criminal law long considered defendant intention therefore moral guilt critical degree criminal culpability mullaney wilbur found criminal penalties unconstitutionally excessive absence intentional wrongdoing robinson california statute making narcotics addiction crime even though addiction apparently illness may contracted innocently involuntarily struck eighth amendment similarly weems invalidated statute making crime public official make false entry public record requiring offender injur one act inten injure one employed similar approach godfrey georgia reversing death sentence based existence aggravating circumstance defendant crime reflect consciousness materially depraved person guilty murder purposes imposing death penalty enmund criminal culpability must limited participation robbery punishment must tailored personal responsibility moral guilt putting enmund death avenge two killings commit intention committing causing measurably contribute retributive end ensuring criminal gets deserts judgment legislatures recently addressed matter reason disagree judgment purposes construing applying eighth amendment iv florida affirmed death penalty case absence proof enmund killed attempted kill regardless whether enmund intended contemplated life taken reverse judgment upholding death penalty remand proceedings inconsistent opinion ordered footnotes florida understanding evidence differed sharply trial respect degree enmund participation sentencing findings trial concluded enmund major participant robbery planned robbery advance shot kerseys findings understand rejected florida holding supportable inference respect enmund participation drove getaway car dissent conceding holding negated finding enmund one triggermen argues trial finding enmund planned robbery implicitly affirmed post said disagree view event question irrelevant constitutional issue us since florida held driving escape car enough warrant conviction death penalty whether enmund intended life taken anticipated lethal force used armstrong florida rejected trial conclusion kerseys killed order eliminate witnesses stated according direct account events shootings indeed spontaneous precipitated armed resistance mrs kersey petitioner argues second question whether degree enmund participation killings given consideration required eighth fourteenth amendments need deal question cal penal code ann west supp stat code miss code ann supp rev stat code supp code ann supp wyo stat iv mo rev stat death penalty may imposed capital murder felony murder murder rev stat ann iii supp capital murder includes killing law enforcement officer killing kidnaping murder hire cons stat death penalty may imposed murder felony murder murder rev code death penalty may imposed premeditated killing code supp found guilty capital murder accomplice must intent promote assist commission offense murder must intentional rev ch capital crime defendant killed intentionally knowledge actions created strong probability death great bodily harm la rev stat ann west supp specific intent kill stat ann supp felony murder capital crime death penalty may imposed absent intent kill unless victim peace officer ohio rev code ann accomplice guilty capital murder unless intended kill tex penal code ann intentionally commits murder course felony utah code ann intentionally knowingly causes death another code willful deliberate premeditated killing person commission robbery armed deadly weapon ark stat ann extreme indifference life see also commentary inadvertent killing course felony support conviction entailing punishment death del code tit recklessly criminal negligence causes death commission felony rev stat supp defendant must manifest extreme indifference human life wantonly engag conduct creates grave risk death thereby causes death see also commentary following criminal law kentucky annotated penal code accomplice participation felony must constitut wantonness manifesting extreme indifference human life md code art except cases murder hire principal first degree subject death penalty addition two jurisdictions already accounted supra also preclude death penalty defendant commit murder rev ch defendant must actually kill victim code except cases murder hire principal first degree may tried capital murder rev stat stat tit supp capital murder reserved offenders commit second unrelated murder murder correctional officer rev stat ann supp relatively minor participation stat supp ind code supp mont code ann neb rev stat stat supp idaho code okla tit comp laws ann supp see ohio statutes cited nn supra dissent characterizes state statutes somewhat differently begins noting authorize sentencer impose death sentence death occurs course robbery post relevant case however rather issue number authorize death penalty defendant kill attempt kill intend kill dissent divides statutes three categories first category statutes include disagreement wyo listed dissent idaho dissent looks solely provisions defining crime capital murder colorado capital sentencing statute makes defendant minimal participation murder absolute defense imposition death penalty see supra contrary dissent claim provision help petitioner see post case judged basis florida findings see supra colorado law may well barred imposition death penalty case similarly capital sentencing statutes permit capital punishment solely vicarious felony murder reduce likelihood death penalty imposed vicarious felony murderer even aggravating circumstances present making defendant minimal participation homicide mitigating circumstance see supra three idaho allow defendant intend kill actually kill executed aggravating circumstances present felony murder serve aggravating circumstance see supra new mexico capital sentencing statute requires jury find least one statutory aggravating circumstance death penalty may imposed addition aggravating circumstances must outweigh mitigating circumstances stat ann supp statute lists seven statutory aggravating circumstances six require intent kill aggravating circumstance include intent element applicable requires victim must peace officer acting lawful discharge official duty murdered remaining state vermont limits death penalty narrow circumstances present see supra disagreement three require culpable mental state short intent nontriggerman may put death compare supra post mental state enmund proved possess similarly dissent second category seven authorize death penalty defendant specific intent kill victim differs group include new mexico group compare supra post finally disagreement three restrict application death penalty felony murderers actually kill compare supra post see app brief petitioner reason believe group contains higher proportion nontriggermen rest defendants studied see naacp legal defense educational fund death row see app brief petitioner naacp legal defense educational fund death row see app reply brief petitioner statistics concerning number vicarious felony murderers executed number death row consistent findings study cases defendant found guilty capital crime hence received death penalty kalven zeisel american jury death penalty chi rev authors found juries rebel imposing death penalty vicarious criminal responsibility defendant extent felony murder accomplice factors accounted jury decisions impose death penalty trial judge decided impose death penalty factor authors anticipated rigidity felony murder rule jury sense equity produce broad area disagreement however found disagreement rule emerges level death penalty ibid climate international opinion concerning acceptability particular punishment additional consideration irrelevant coker georgia thus worth noting doctrine felony murder abolished england india severely restricted canada number commonwealth countries unknown continental europe ali model penal code pp draft revised comments hereafter model penal code also relevant death sentences infrequently commuted terms imprisonment grounds defendant lack premeditation limited participation homicidal act see wolfgang kelly nolde comparison executed commuted among admissions death row crim statistics relied upon american law institute may summarized follows robberies date accompanied location robberies homicide cook county est philadelphia new jersey model penal code comment estimated total robberies occurred dept justice federal bureau investigation uniform crime reports approximately persons murdered connection robberies thus robberies resulted homicide see also cook effect gun availability robbery robbery murder haveman zellner policy studies review annual robberies result murder justice brennan concurring join opinion however adhere view death penalty circumstances cruel unusual punishment prohibited eighth fourteenth amendments see gregg georgia dissenting opinion justice chief justice justice powell justice rehnquist join dissenting today holds eighth amendment prohibits state executing convicted felony murderer dissent holding believe supported analysis previous cases also today holding interferes state criteria assessing legal guilt recasting intent matter federal constitutional law evidence trial showed approximately april sampson jeanette armstrong approached back door thomas eunice kersey farmhouse pretext obtaining water overheated car thomas kersey retrieved water jug help armstrongs sampson armstrong grabbed held gun told jeanette armstrong take wallet hearing husband cries help eunice kersey came around side house gun shot jeanette armstrong sampson armstrong perhaps jeanette armstrong returned fire killing kerseys armstrongs dragged bodies kitchen took thomas kersey money fled nearby car petitioner earl enmund waiting help armstrongs escape record ida jean shaw testified march petitioner two armstrongs staying house awoke april day murders petitioner jeanette sampson well shaw yellow buick gone little eight either petitioner sampson armstrong entered house told jeanette shot learning jeanette shot robbery shaw asked petitioner hy enmund answered decided rob thomas kersey seen kersey money weeks earlier time sampson armstrong volunteered made sure kerseys dead ida jean shaw also testified pursuant petitioner sampson armstrong instructions disposed pistol normally kept car well pistol belonging armstrongs murder weapons never recovered closing argument prosecutor argue earl enmund killed kerseys instead maintained petitioner initiated planned armed robbery car killings according prosecutor sampson armstrong killed old people deliberating four hours jury found sampson armstrong petitioner guilty two counts murder one count robbery jury heard evidence pertaining appropriate sentence two defendants recommended death penalty defendant murder counts sentencing findings trial found four statutory aggravating circumstances regarding petitioner involvement murder petitioner previously convicted felony involving use violence armed robbery stat murders committed course robbery murders committed pecuniary gain murders especially heinous atrocious cruel kerseys shot prone position effort eliminate witnesses app trial also found none statutory mitigating circumstances applied petitioner app emphasis original notably concluded evidence clearly showed petitioner accomplice capital felony participation relatively minor major planned capital felony actively participated attempt avoid detection disposing murder weapons ibid see stat considering factors trial concluded aggravating circumstances capital felonies outweigh mitigating circumstances imposed death penalty count murder app sentenced petitioner life imprisonment robbery app appeal florida affirmed petitioner convictions sentences challenging convictions murder petitioner claimed evidence committed premeditated murder present aiding abetting robbery kerseys shot argued since jury properly concluded car highway murders committed found guilty murder state rule rejected argument quoting earlier case florida held individual personally kills another perpetration attempt perpetrate one enumerated felonies guilty first degree murder moreover felon liability first degree murder extends personally present perpetrators underlying felony principals homicide florida majority jurisdictions felony murder rule law principals combine make felon generally responsible lethal acts felon accessory fact personally present liability attach second degree murder provision applicable statute instant case quoting adams state omitted cert denied presence aider abetter need actual sufficient constructively present provided aider pursuant previous understanding sufficiently near situated abet encourage render assistance actual perpetrator committing felonious act escaping commission ibid quoting pope state evidence degree participation jury likely inference person car side road near scene crimes jury concluded hundred feet away waiting help robbers escape kerseys money ibid turning trial written sentencing findings state rejected two four aggravating circumstances first held two trial judge findings murders committed course robbery pecuniary gain referred aspect petitioner crime consequently facts supported one aggravating circumstance second citing armstrong state held recited circumstance murders especially heinous atrocious cruel approved affirmed trial findings none statutory mitigating circumstances applied ibid one findings enmund participation capital felony minor due role planning robbery state implicitly affirmed finding enmund planned robbery regarding petitioner claim imposition death penalty absent showing intended kill violate eighth amendment ban cruel unusual punishments simply stated petitioner offers us binding legal authority directly supports proposition therefore reject ii earl enmund claim death sentence imposed florida trial affirmed florida unconstitutionally disproportionate role played robbery murders kerseys particular contends actual intent kill victims effect behavior intent blameworthy robber capital punishment extreme penalty gregg georgia majority concluded death penalty invariably violate cruel unusual punishments clause eighth amendment see opinion stewart powell stevens jj hen life taken deliberately offender say punishment invariably disproportionate crime extreme sanction suitable extreme crimes omitted opinion white rejecting argument death penalty however imposed whatever crime cruel unusual punishment blackmun concurring judgment case since gregg companion cases retreated position recognizing constitutionality death penalty however marks beginning inquiry earl enmund convicted murder ordinarily envisioned deliberate premeditated unlawful killing rather doctrine accessorial liability petitioner convicted two murders specifically intend thus necessary examine concept proportionality enunciated cases determine whether penalty imposed earl enmund unconstitutionally disproportionate crimes eighth amendment concept proportionality first fully expressed weems case defendant weems sentenced years hard labor falsifying public document remarking precept justice punishment crime graduated proportioned offense comparing weems punishment punishments crimes concluded sentence cruel unusual century later coker georgia declare another punishment unconstitutionally disproportionate crime writing three members justice white concluded death disproportionate penalty crime raping adult woman reaching conclusion plurality careful inform judgment objective factors maximum possible extent giving attention public attitudes concerning particular sentence history precedent legislative attitudes response juries reflected sentencing decisions plurality resort objective factors doubt effort derive evolving standards decency mark progress maturing society meaning requirement proportionality contained within eighth amendment trop dulles opinion warren plurality noted within previous years majority never authorized death punishment rape significantly plurality immediately reinstituted death penalty following judgment furman georgia invalidating nearly state capital punishment statutes defined rape capital offense plurality also considered sentencing decisions juries made course assessing whether capital punishment appropriate penalty crime tried see gregg georgia opinion stewart powell stevens jj jury also significant reliable objective index contemporary values directly involved available data plurality concluded least rape convictions since juries georgia declined impose death penalty thus conclusion reached coker rested part observation legislatures juries firmly rejected penalty death crime rape see woodson north carolina opinion stewart powell stevens jj concluding state mandatory death penalty statute violates eighth amendment two crucial indicators evolving standards decency respecting imposition punishment society jury determinations legislative enactments point conclusively repudiation automatic death sentences addition ascertaining contemporary standards plurality opinion also considered qualitative factors bearing question whether death penalty disproportionate constitution contemplates end judgment brought bear question acceptability death penalty eighth amendment plurality acknowledged rapist almost blameworthy murderer describing crime rape highly reprehensible moral sense almost total contempt personal integrity autonomy female victim ibid despite enormity crime rape however concluded death penalty grossly proportion severity crime part harm caused rape compare murder involve unjustified taking human life coker teaches therefore proportionality least regards capital punishment requires inquiry contemporary standards expressed legislators jurors also involves notion magnitude punishment imposed must related degree harm inflicted victim well degree defendant blameworthiness moreover turn considerations unique defendant case latter factors underlying concept proportionality reflected conclusion lockett ohio individualized consideration constitutional requirement imposing death sentence opinion burger omitted see opinion blackmun ohio judgment case improperly provided death sentence defendant aided abetted murder without permitting consideration sentencing authority extent involvement degree mens rea commission homicide sum considering petitioner challenge decide whether petitioner sentence death offends contemporary standards reflected responses legislatures juries also whether disproportionate harm petitioner caused petitioner involvement crime well whether procedures petitioner sentenced satisfied constitutional requirement individualized consideration set forth lockett following analysis set forth coker petitioner examines historical development rule well contemporary legislation jury verdicts capital cases effort show imposition death penalty violate eighth amendment effort fails however available data show society rejected conclusively death penalty felony murderers petitioner acknowledges doctrine corresponding capital penalty originated hundreds years ago fixture english common law parliament declared unintentional killing felony classified manslaughter rule transplanted american colonies use continued largely unabated century although legislative reforms often restricted capital felony murder enumerated violent felonies petitioner discounts weight historical precedent arguing jurors judges widely resisted application capital punishment acquitting defendants cases convicting noncapital manslaughter force petitioner argument speculative best however unclear fraction jury nullification country resulted dissatisfaction capital rule much surely reaction mandatory death penalty failure common law early state statutes classify murder degree fact response juror attitudes toward capital punishment jurisdictions early part century replaced mandatory death penalty statutes statutes allowing juries discretion decide whether impose recommend death penalty see woodson north carolina opinion stewart powell stevens thus simply possible conclude historically country conclusively rejected capital punishment homicides committed course felony petitioner turn jury verdicts effort show present standards least capital punishment grossly proportion crimes petitioner committed surveying reported appellate opinions since involving executions petitioner found individuals executed homicide personally committed homicidal assault two others another person commit homicide behalf six persons executed similar trend seen petitioner survey current death row population prisoners sufficient data available participate homicidal assault including petitioner sentenced death absent finding collaborated killer specific plan kill brief petitioner see also app reply brief petitioner showing felony murderers currently death row florida found state trial intent kill cases state courts made finding defendant triggerman petitioner case defendant triggerman finding intent kill impressive statistics first glance accepted uncritically stated data reveal number fraction homicides charged felony murders number fraction cases state sought death penalty accomplice guilty felony murder consequently know fraction cases juries rejected death penalty accomplice felony murder moreover justice blackmun pointed concurring opinion lockett ohio many data classify defendants whether personally committed homicidal assault show fraction capital defendants shown intent kill petitioner relies fact pull trigger principal argument must death unconstitutional penalty absent intent kill otherwise defendants hire others kill escape death penalty see supra thus data presents entirely relevant even accepting petitioner facts meaningful may reflect sentencers especially cautious imposing death penalty reserve punishment defendants sufficiently involved homicide whether specific intent kill finally petitioner acknowledges jury verdict statistics viewed isolation state death penalty legislation petitioner therefore review recent legislation order support conclusion society rejected capital felony murder presently death penalty however fully authorize sentencer impose death sentence death occurs course robbery uniform delimiting circumstances death penalty may imposed felony murder state statute classified one three types first category containing statutes includes permit imposition death penalty felony murder even though defendant commit homicidal act even though actual intent kill three additional requiring finding intent require intent kill petitioner believes constitutionally mandated death sentence may imposed second category containing seven statutes includes authorize death penalty defendant specific intent rough equivalent kill victim third class statutes three restricts application death penalty felony murderers actually commit homicide curious method counting authorize imposition death penalty felony murder hide fact permit sentencer impose death penalty even though felony murderer neither killed intended kill victim acknowledges eight state statutes follow florida death penalty scheme see ante also concedes statutes permit imposition death penalty defendant neither intended kill actually killed victims see ante arkansas delaware kentucky ante new mexico ante colorado ante vermont ante arizona connecticut indiana montana nebraska north carolina ante idaho oklahoma south dakota statutes list aggravating circumstances nevertheless question whether particular species death penalty statute unconstitutional whether scheme permits imposition death penalty absent finding defendant either killed intended kill victims unconstitutional short peculiar statutory analysis withstand closer scrutiny thus nearly half permit death penalty murder defendant neither killed victim specifically intended victim die may sentenced death participation far weigh ing heavily side rejecting capital punishment suitable penalty felony murder coker georgia legislative judgments indicate evolving standards decency still embrace capital punishment crime reason conclude petitioner failed meet standards coker woodson two crucial indicators evolving standards decency jury determinations legislative enactments point conclusively repudiation capital punishment felony murder emphasis added short death penalty felony murder fall short national standards decency noted earlier eighth amendment concept proportionality involves merely measurement contemporary standards decency requires addition penalty imposed capital case proportional harm caused defendant blameworthiness critical holding coker example terms moral depravity injury person public rape compare murder involve unjustified taking human life although disingenuously seeks characterize enmund robber ante disputed responsible along sampson jeanette armstrong murders kerseys dispute lives unjustifiably taken petitioner one aided abetted armed robbery legally liable deaths quite unlike defendant coker petitioner claim penalty imposed grossly proportion harm admittedly least partly responsible holding today especially disturbing makes intent matter federal constitutional law requiring review highly subjective definitional problems customarily left state criminal law develop eighth amendment meaning intent justice blackmun pointed concurring opinion lockett holding substantially interfere individual statutory categories assessing legal guilt see also opinion rehnquist rejecting idea intent kill must proved state impose death penalty although opinion suggests intent ascertained historical fact fact legal concept easily defined thus proportionality requires nexus punishment imposed defendant blameworthiness fails explain eighth amendment concept proportionality requires rejection standards blameworthiness based levels intent example intent commit armed robbery coupled knowledge armed robberies involve substantial risk death serious injury persons moreover requirement crudely crafted fails take account complex picture defendant knowledge accomplice intent whether armed defendant contribution planning success crime defendant actual participation commission crime circumstances determination degree blameworthiness best left sentencer sift facts unique case consequently type mens rea defendant must considered carefully assessing proper penalty critical factor determining blameworthiness require finding intent kill order impose death penalty felony murder sum petitioner failed show contemporary standards reflected jury determinations legislative enactments preclude imposition death penalty accomplice felony murder moreover examination qualitative factors underlying concept proportionality show death penalty disproportionate applied earl enmund contrast crime coker petitioner crime involves type harm held justifies death penalty finally unique complex mixture facts involving defendant actions knowledge motives participation commission felony murder believe factfinder best able assess defendant blameworthiness accordingly conclude death penalty disproportionate crime felony murder even though defendant actually kill intend kill victims iii although conclude death penalty disproportionate crime felony murder believe light state rejection critical factual findings previous opinions require remand new sentencing hearing repeatedly emphasized capital sentencing decisions must focus circumstances individual homicide individual defendant proffitt florida opinion stewart powell stevens striking mandatory capital punishment statute woodson north carolina plurality wrote process accords significance relevant facets character record individual offender circumstances particular offense excludes consideration fixing ultimate punishment death possibility compassionate mitigating factors stemming diverse frailties humankind treats persons convicted designated offense uniquely individual human beings members faceless undifferentiated mass subjected blind infliction penalty death believe capital cases fundamental respect humanity underlying eighth amendment requires consideration character record individual offender circumstances particular offense constitutionally indispensable part process inflicting penalty death given imposition death public authority profoundly different penalties avoid conclusion individualized decision essential capital cases need treating defendant capital case degree respect due uniqueness individual far important noncapital cases nonavailability corrective modifying mechanisms respect executed capital sentence underscores need individualized consideration constitutional requirement imposing death sentence omitted sentencing petitioner trial found four statutory aggravating circumstances petitioner convicted previously violent felony murders committed course robbery murders committed pecuniary gain murders especially heinous atrocious cruel factual findings trial stated armed robbery planned ahead time defendant enmund app shot victims lay prone order eliminate witnesses expressly found none statutory mitigating circumstances applied petitioner emphasis original among findings rejected enmund claim participation murders relatively minor found instead participation capital felony major defendant enmund planned capital felony actively participated attempt avoid detection disposing murder weapons ibid florida rejected findings part noted direct evidence trial earl enmund present back door kersey home plan rob elderly couple led murdered rather evidence degree participation jury likely inference person car side road near scene crimes jury concluded hundred feet away waiting help robbers escape kersey money ibid although state statutory procedures prevent trial judge considering mitigating circumstances trial judge view facts part rejected state effectively prevented consideration erroneous belief petitioner shot victims lay prone position order eliminate witnesses trial judge necessarily rejected argument offered mitigation petitioner role capital felonies minor undeserving death penalty petitioner car fatal shots fired fundamental misunderstanding petitioner role crimes prevented trial considering circumstances particular offense imposing sentence woodson north carolina moreover error insignificant sure effect sentencing judge decision negligible accordingly vacate decision insofar affirms death sentence remand case new sentencing hearing much evidence concerning crimes came neal sampson armstrong made numerous admissions day murders see record neal testified armstrong told two guns involved jeanette one sampson autopsy revealed kersey shot twice bullet bullet kersey shot six times bullets identified two fired gun one gun according firearms expert bullets fired gun bullets fired gun see ida jean shaw petitioner wife jeanette armstrong mother later given immunity prosecution return testimony record thomas kersey normally kept large sums money wallet indiscriminately showed cash people dealt weeks murder kersey revealed contents wallet petitioner bragged time dig see record ida jean shaw trial testimony contradicted earlier statements police police initially questioned insisted jeanette shot unknown assailant jeanette traveling nearby town later gave investigators statement implicating petitioner sampson armstrong murders subsequently gave two statements repudiating statement implicating petitioner closing argument prosecutor acknowledged conflict ida jean shaw testimony yellow buick morning murders testimony witness saw car shortly murders prosecutor deemed inconsistency irrelevant sentencing hearing prosecutor theorized petitioner trigger man person set prosecutor admitted know whether petitioner set foot inside house drove set planned well state acknowledges petitioner apparently triggerman two murders involved sic case brief opposition florida time kersey murders murder defined stat unlawful killing human perpetrated premeditated design effect death person killed human committed person engaged perpetration attempt perpetrate robbery instructing jury murder judge read provision verbatim record also added killing human engaged perpetration attempt perpetrate offense robbery murder first degree even though premeditated design intent kill distinguishing felony murder judge stated order sustain conviction first degree murder engaging perpetration attempted perpetration crime robbery evidence must establish beyond reasonable doubt defendant actually present actively aiding abetting robbery attempted robbery unlawful killing occurred perpetration attempted perpetration robbery order sustain conviction second degree murder engaged perpetration attempted perpetration robbery evidence must establish beyond reasonable doubt unlawful killing committed perpetration attempted perpetration robbery defendant actually although physically present time commission offense nonetheless procure counsel command aid another commit crime motion petitioner prosecution jeanette armstrong trial severed trial codefendants jeanette armstrong tried first convicted two counts murder one count robbery trial judge sentenced three consecutive life sentences florida law shall conduct separate sentencing proceeding determine whether defendant sentenced death life imprisonment stat jury renders advisory sentence based mitigating aggravating circumstances sentencing hearing petitioner presented evidence record attorney argued death penalty inappropriate evidence showed petitioner saw thomas kersey money suggested robbery drove armstrongs kersey house also argued death excessive penalty gunfight spontaneous beyond petitioner control initially trial failed make written findings required stat first state appeal florida remanded case findings see app regarding extent petitioner involvement trial reasoned two different guns used murders jeanette armstrong seriously wounded gunfire petitioner must fired one guns moreover since kerseys injured bullet type petitioner must shot victim also rejected statutory mitigating circumstances particular petitioner record free criminal convictions stat evidence acted influence extreme mental emotional disturbance evidence victims participants consented crimes evidence acted extreme duress substantial domination another person evidence petitioner incapable appreciating criminality conduct conforming conduct requirements law years old time offense age mitigating factor app trial made nearly identical findings sampson armstrong particular found murders committed course robbery committed pecuniary gain especially heinous atrocious cruel see armstrong state trial considered possible mitigating circumstance armstrong age actually find fact mitigating see factor age given consideration finding aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances trial judge imposed death penalty murder conviction imposed life sentence robbery florida also affirmed convictions sentences sampson armstrong see armstrong state supra murder based felony murder defined stat hen committed perpetration attempt perpetrate robbery except provided subsection shall murder second degree punishable imprisonment state prison life term years may determined also noted sampson armstrong admissions neal made mention petitioner petitioner admissions ida jean shaw indicated complicity armstrong florida expressly rejected trial conclusion kerseys murdered order eliminate witnesses simply said proof robbers killed order assure witnesses contrary direct account transpired testimony neal armstrong statement account shootings indeed spontaneous precipitated armed resistance mrs kersey ibid reaching conclusion state also rejected trial conclusions derived pathologist testimony rather indicating victims prone shot pathologist testimony direction fire positions victims shot equivocal best ibid petitioner neither challenges convictions robbery felony murder argues state overstepped constitutional bounds defining murder include felony murder petitioner sole challenge penalty imposed murders although petitioner ostensibly relies fact triggerman core argument death penalty disproportionate crime specific intent kill kerseys pulling trigger one factor albeit significant one determining intent see tr oral arg counsel petitioner asserting long defendant intent kill need actually pulled trigger order subjected capital punishment even pulled trigger subject death penalty absent specific intent kill eighth amendment provides excessive bail shall required excessive fines imposed cruel unusual punishments inflicted see roberts stanislaus louisiana holding louisiana mandatory death penalty statute violated eighth fourteenth amendments woodson north carolina holding state mandatory death penalty statute violated eighth fourteenth amendments jurek texas upholding texas death penalty statute proffitt florida upholding florida death penalty statute one case since gregg upheld challenged death sentence see dobbert florida holding changes death penalty statute time murder sentencing amount ex post facto violation five cases vacated death sentence sentencer consider mitigating factors proffered defendant see roberts harry louisiana per curiam lockett ohio plurality opinion bell ohio plurality opinion green georgia per curiam eddings oklahoma adopting reasoning lockett plurality holding two cases reversed judgments affirming death sentences jury selected violation witherspoon illinois see adams texas davis georgia per curiam five cases vacated death sentences variety reasons unrelated proportionality punishment crime see gardner florida plurality opinion due process violated defendant chance explain deny information given sentencing judge godfrey georgia plurality opinion reversing death sentence aggravating circumstance relied upon jury tailored avoid arbitrary capricious infliction death penalty beck alabama holding death penalty may imposed jury precluded considering lesser included noncapital offense evidence existed support verdict bullington missouri holding double jeopardy clause prevented imposition death sentence upon retrial jury imposed life imprisonment first trial estelle smith holding admission psychiatrist testimony penalty phase capital trial violated defendant fifth amendment privilege told psychiatric examination statements used sentencing proceeding coker georgia vacated death sentence man convicted rape adult woman nevertheless made clear death penalty per se disproportionate crime murder see opinion white settled death penalty invariably cruel unusual punishment within meaning eighth amendment neither always disproportionate crime imposed opinion burger accepting eighth amendment concept disproportionality bars death penalty minor crimes rejecting argument death disproportionate punishment rape much less murder strictly speaking state unequivocally whether petitioner specifically intended either kill kerseys killed trial made findings issues trial however make finding rejected florida petitioner participation minor major planned capital felony actively participated attempt avoid detection disposing murder weapons app accordingly proceed assumption petitioner intent commit armed robbery accomplices armstrongs justice powell concurred plurality reasoning concluding ordinarily death disproportionate crime stopped short per se rule justice brennan justice marshall concurred judgment adhering previously announced views death penalty circumstances cruel unusual punishment prohibited eighth fourteenth amendments see fact two louisiana north carolina define rape capital felony reenacted death penalty statutes following invalidation woodson north carolina roberts louisiana see consequently time coker decided georgia authorized death penalty rape adult woman conducted less searching inquiry punishments less death see rummel estelle upholding eighth amendment challenge life sentence imposed state recidivist statute hutto davis per curiam upholding basis rummel sentence two marihuana convictions rummel expressly noted purposes eighth amendment analysis decisions applying prohibition cruel unusual punishments capital cases limited assistance deciding constitutionality prison sentences according one source early common law felonies capital crimes attempts punished misdemeanors accidental killings punishable rule effort create felony liability accidental killings caused course attempted felony see ali model penal code comment draft revised comments see english homicide act eliz ch english attitude toward capital punishment reflected recent legislation differs significantly american attitudes reflected state legislation england abolished death penalty murders see murder abolition death penalty act halsbury statutes england ed see comment constitutionality imposing death penalty felony murder hous rev alderstein new criminal codes crim see royal commission capital punishment report reporting application doctrine limited cases verdict intentional murder law revision commission state new york annual report significant new york legislature rejected commission recommendation requiring element mens rea instead adopted scheme giving jurors discretion recommend life sentences see laws ch extent jury nullification nearly complete repudiation mandatory death penalty laws led plurality conclude two crucial indicators evolving standards decency respecting imposition punishment society jury determinations legislative enactments point conclusively repudiation automatic death sentences woodson north carolina opinion stewart powell stevens factors supported conclusion north carolina mandatory death penalty law violated eighth amendment see app brief petitioner moreover last nontriggerman executed contrast rapists executed decision coker brief petitioner see app brief petitioner naacp legal defense education fund death row missouri new hampshire pennsylvania define felony murder crime distinct capital murder see mo rev stat rev stat ann iii supp cons stat one exception new hampshire scheme includes definition capital murder death caused knowingly course kidnaping fourth state washington permits imposition death penalty premeditated murder aggravated inter alia commission felony rev code see rev stat ann supp cal penal code ann west supp rev stat supp stat ann west supp stat code idaho code ind code supp miss code ann supp mont code ann neb rev stat rev stat stat ann supp stat okla tit code supp codified laws supp code ann supp stat tit supp wyo stat two colorado connecticut provide affirmative defense capital crime accomplice way solicit request command importune cause aid commission homicidal act armed deadly weapon reason believe cofelons armed engage intend engage reason believe cofelons engage conduct likely result death serious bodily injury see rev stat stat supp colorado also prevents imposition death penalty defendant role though sufficient establish guilt relatively minor rev stat even available florida statute provisions help petitioner since trial found mitigating circumstances part enmund role capital felony minor see stat state expressly affirmed trial finding mitigating circumstances therefore finding petitioner role minor course statutes listed identical several provide robbery murder capital felony require proof additional aggravating circumstances defendant convicted previously violent felony victim correctional officer death penalty imposed see okla tit stat ann supp others like florida statute define robbery murder capital offense use robbery aggravating circumstance common thread statutes however defendant need intent kill order subject death penalty additional subdivision group statutes see ante nn serves obscure point permit imposition death penalty even though defendant actually kill intent kill see ark stat ann capital crime death occurs commission felony circumstances manifesting extreme indifference value human life del code tit capital crime death caused criminal negligence rev stat supp defendant must caus death another person circumstances manifesting extreme indifference human life wantonly engag ing conduct creates grave risk death another person affirmative defense capital felony murder arkansas defendant commit homicide act way solicit command induce procure counsel aid commission ark stat ann oral argument counsel petitioner stated determining factor intent take life conscious purpose take life tr oral arg petitioner proposed standard statutes unconstitutional see code supp accomplice guilty capital murder unless killing intentional accomplice intent promote assist commission murder rev ch capital crime defendant killed intentionally knowledge actions created strong probability death great bodily harm la rev stat ann west supp defendant guilty capital murder specific intent kill inflict great bodily harm ohio rev code ann accomplice guilty capital crime unless purposely cause death specifically found intended cause death another defendant principal offender death penalty precluded unless committed aggravated murder prior calculation design tex penal code ann defendant guilty capital murder intentionally knowingly caused death course robbery utah code ann defendant guilty capital murder intentionally knowingly caused death course robbery code capital murder killing willful deliberate premeditated see rev ch capital crime defendant actually killed victim defendant killed intentionally knowledge actions created strong probability death great bodily harm md ann code art except cases murder hire principal first degree subject death penalty code except cases murder hire immediate perpetrator homicide accomplice fact principal second degree may tried capital murder note illinois virginia also require intent kill see supra attempt downplay significance enmund role murders see ante square facts case trial expressly found enmund planned robbery role minor therefore statutory mitigating circumstances applied florida affirmed finding mitigating circumstances thereby affirming underlying factual predicate enmund planned armed robbery moreover even enmund trial counsel conceded sentencing hearing enmund initiated armed robbery drove getaway car see supra misreads opinion suggesting state deduced sentencing hearing enmund participation getaway driver fact made statement respect guilt phase trial mentioned enmund counsel conceded sentencing hearing enmund initiated armed robbery true petitioner suggests requirement interfere state substantive categories murder prohibiting death penalty accomplice felony murder create category murder capital murder death penalty permitted next statutory degree term years typically less life imprisonment imposed petitioner also contend capital punishment felony murder violates eighth amendment makes measurable contribution acceptable goals punishment coker georgia brief petitioner reason since specifically intend kill kerseys since probability death armed robbery low see ali model penal code supra comment concluding several studies homicide occurs one percent robberies since death penalty rarely imposed nontriggermen capital punishment deterred anyone else participating armed robbery petitioner also reject notion goal retribution might served moral guilt insignificant core conclusions legislative judgments regarding efficacy capital punishment tool achieving retributive justice deterring violent crime surely neither petitioner shown capital punishment ineffective deterrent crime speculate effect felony murderers rely competent observers rather legislative judgments see ante moreover decision whether particular punishment serves admittedly legitimate goal retribution seems uniquely suited legislative resolution armed robber takes serious risk someone die course crime obviousness risk conclude death penalty makes measurable contribution acceptable goals punishment apparently also intends case remanded new death sentence hearing consistent course holding today although petitioner challenges constitutionality sentencing hearing challenge constitutionality statutory capital sentencing procedures see proffitt florida upholding florida scheme see songer state holding stat lists mitigating circumstances restrict sentencer consideration mitigating circumstances expressly listed statute shriner state cert denied noted petitioner offered additional evidence sentencing hearing mitigation crime see record counsel argued however petitioner deserve death penalty role crime relatively minor florida opinion fails correct error either remanding new sentencing evaluating impact trial fundamental misperception petitioner role killings rather simply repeats three times without discussion evidence mitigating circumstances light dramatically different factual findings review inadequate satisfy lockett principle