proffitt florida argued march decided july petitioner whose murder conviction death sentence affirmed florida attacks constitutionality florida procedure enacted response furman georgia new statute trial judge sentencing authority must weigh eight statutory aggravating factors seven statutory mitigating factors determine whether death penalty imposed thus requiring focus circumstances crime character individual defendant florida system resembles georgia system upheld gregg georgia ante except basic difference florida sentence determined trial judge rather jury advisory role respect sentencing phase trial held judgment affirmed pp affirmed justice stewart justice powell justice stevens concluded imposition death penalty per se cruel unusual punishment violation eighth fourteenth amendments gregg ante face florida procedures imposition death penalty satisfy constitutional deficiencies identified furman supra florida trial judges given specific detailed guidance assist deciding whether impose death penalty imprisonment life decisions reviewed ensure comport sentences imposed similar circumstances petitioner contentions new florida procedures remain arbitrary capricious lack merit pp argument florida system constitutionally invalid allows discretion exercised stage criminal proceeding fundamentally misinterprets furman gregg ante aggravating circumstances authorizing death penalty crime especially heinous atrocious cruel defendant knowingly created great risk death many persons construed florida provide adequate guidance involved sentencing process thus construed overly broad pp petitioner argument imprecision mitigating circumstances makes incapable determination judge jury contentions similar vein raise questions evaluations differ factors juries judges traditionally consider florida statute gives clear precise directions judge jury enable weigh aggravating circumstances mitigating ones pp contrary petitioner contention state review role neither ineffective arbitrary evidenced careful procedures followed assessing imposition death sentences third vacated pp justice white joined chief justice justice rehnquist concluded florida law sentencing judge required impose death penalty murderers statutory aggravating factors outweigh mitigating factors categories penalty freakishly rarely regularly imposed therefore florida scheme run afoul holding furman petitioner contentions prosecutorial discretion argument death penalty may never imposed circumstances consistent eighth amendment without substance see gregg georgia ante white concurring judgment roberts louisiana post white dissenting pp justice blackmun concurred judgment see furman georgia blackmun dissenting clinton curtis argued cause petitioner brief jack johnson robert shevin attorney general florida argued cause respondent brief johnston george georgieff raymond marky assistant attorneys general solicitor general bork argued cause amicus curiae brief deputy solicitor general randolph william james assistant attorney general argued cause state california amicus curiae brief evelle younger attorney general jack winkler chief assistant attorney general jack greenberg james nabrit iii peggy davis anthony amsterdam filed brief legal defense educational fund amicus curiae urging reversal briefs amici curiae filed rollie rogers lee belstock colorado state public defender system arthur michaelson amnesty international judgment opinion justice stewart justice powell justice stevens announced justice powell issue presented case whether imposition sentence death crime murder law florida violates eighth fourteenth amendments petitioner charles william proffitt tried found guilty sentenced death murder joel medgebow circumstances surrounding murder testified decedent wife present time committed july medgebow awakened around bedroom apartment find husband sitting bed moaning holding took ruler third person jumped hit several times fist knocked floor ran house soon appeared medgebow fatally stabbed butcher knife medgebow able identify attacker although able give description petitioner wife testified night murder petitioner gone work dressed white shirt gray pants returned dressed clothing without shoes said short conversation petitioner packed clothes departed young woman boarder overheard parts petitioner conversation wife testified petitioner told wife stabbed killed man butcher knife burglarizing place beaten woman one petitioner coworkers testified drinking together morning murder petitioner driven home said petitioner time wearing gray pants white shirt jury found defendant guilty charged subsequently provided florida law separate hearing held determine whether petitioner sentenced death life imprisonment state law decision turned whether certain statutory aggravating circumstances surrounding crime outweighed statutory mitigating circumstances found exist hearing shown petitioner one prior conviction charge breaking entering state also introduced testimony physician crumbley jail petitioner held pending trial testified petitioner come physician told concerned harm people future uncontrollable desire kill already resulted killing one man desire building wanted psychiatric help kill crumbley also testified opinion petitioner dangerous danger fellow inmates imprisoned condition treated successfully jury returned advisory verdict recommending sentence death trial judge ordered independent psychiatric evaluation petitioner results indicated petitioner time murder mentally impaired judge sentenced petitioner death written findings supporting sentence judge found aggravating circumstances murder premeditated occurred course felony burglary petitioner propensity commit murder murder especially heinous atrocious cruel petitioner knowingly intentional act created great risk serious bodily harm death many persons judge also found specifically none statutory mitigating circumstances existed florida affirmed granted certiorari consider whether imposition death sentence case constitutes cruel unusual punishment violation eighth fourteenth amendments ii petitioner argues imposition death penalty circumstances cruel unusual punishment violation eighth fourteenth amendments reject argument reasons stated today gregg georgia ante iii response furman georgia florida legislature adopted new statutes authorize imposition death penalty convicted murder stat ann supp time florida adopted new procedure patterned large part model penal code see supp new statute defendant found guilty capital offense separate evidentiary hearing held trial judge jury determine sentence evidence may presented matter judge deems relevant sentencing must include matters relating certain legislatively specified aggravating mitigating circumstances prosecution defense may present argument whether death penalty shall imposed conclusion hearing jury directed consider hether sufficient mitigating circumstances exist outweigh aggravating circumstances found exist ased considerations whether defendant sentenced life imprisonment death supp jury verdict determined majority vote advisory actual sentence determined trial judge florida stated however order sustain sentence death following jury recommendation life facts suggesting sentence death clear convincing virtually reasonable person differ tedder state accord thompson state cf spinkellink state trial judge also directed weigh statutory aggravating mitigating circumstances determines sentence imposed defendant statute requires trial imposes sentence death shall set forth writing findings upon sentence death based facts hat sufficient statutory aggravating circumstances exist hat insufficient statutory mitigating circumstances outweigh aggravating circumstances supp statute provides automatic review florida cases death sentence imposed supp law differs georgia require conduct specific form review since however trial judge must justify imposition death sentence written findings meaningful appellate review sentence made possible florida like georgia counterpart considers function guarantee aggravating mitigating reasons present one case reach similar result reached similar circumstances another case defendant sentenced die review case light decisions determine whether punishment great state dixon face procedures like used georgia appear meet constitutional deficiencies identified furman sentencing authority florida trial judge directed weigh eight aggravating factors seven mitigating factors determine whether death penalty shall imposed determination requires trial judge focus circumstances crime character individual defendant must inter alia consider whether defendant prior criminal record whether defendant acted duress influence extreme mental emotional disturbance whether defendant role crime minor accomplice whether defendant youth argues favor lenient sentence might otherwise imposed trial judge must also determine whether crime committed course one several enumerated felonies whether committed pecuniary gain whether committed assist escape custody prevent lawful arrest whether crime especially heinous atrocious cruel answer questions unlike considered georgia sentencing jury see gregg georgia ante sentencing judge must focus individual circumstances homicide defendant basic difference florida system georgia system florida sentence determined trial judge rather jury pointed jury sentencing capital case perform important societal function witherspoon illinois never suggested jury sentencing constitutionally required appear judicial sentencing lead anything even greater consistency imposition trial level capital punishment since trial judge experienced sentencing jury therefore better able impose sentences similar imposed analogous cases florida procedures thus seek assure death penalty imposed arbitrary capricious manner moreover extent risk contrary exists minimized florida appellate review system evidence aggravating mitigating circumstances reviewed reweighed florida determine independently whether imposition ultimate penalty warranted songer state see also sullivan state florida like georgia hesitated vacate death sentence determined sentence imposed indeed vacated death sentences reviewed date see taylor state lamadline state slater state swan state tedder state halliwell state thompson state messer state florida procedures sum trial judges given specific detailed guidance assist deciding whether impose death penalty imprisonment life moreover decisions reviewed ensure consistent sentences imposed similar circumstances thus florida georgia longer true meaningful basis distinguishing cases death penalty imposed many cases gregg georgia ante quoting furman georgia white concurring face florida system thus satisfies constitutional deficiencies identified furman gregg petitioner contends however perhaps facially acceptable new sentencing procedures actual effect merely cosmetic arbitrariness caprice still pervade system florida imposes death penalty petitioner first argues arbitrariness inherent florida criminal justice system allows discretion exercised stage criminal proceeding prosecutor decision whether charge capital offense first place decision whether accept plea lesser offense jury consideration lesser included offenses conviction unsuccessful appeal executive decision whether commute death sentence noted gregg argument based fundamental misinterpretation furman reject reasons expressed gregg see ante petitioner next argues new florida sentencing procedures reality eliminate arbitrary infliction death condemned furman basically contends statutory aggravating mitigating circumstances vague overbroad statute gives guidance mitigating aggravating circumstances weighed specific case recognized arguable killings atrocious till believe legislature intended something especially heinous atrocious cruel authorized death penalty first degree murder tedder state consequence indicated eighth statutory provision directed conscienceless pitiless crime unnecessarily torturous victim state dixon see also alford state halliwell state supra say provision construed provides inadequate guidance charged duty recommending imposing sentences capital cases see gregg georgia ante case except instant case third aggravating factor defendant knowingly created great risk death many persons found alvord state state held defendant created great risk death obviously murdered two victims order avoid surviving witness first murder construed florida provisions impermissibly vague also argues neither jury judge capable deciding weigh defendant age determining whether significant history prior criminal activity see supp similar vein petitioner argues possible make rational determination whether sufficient aggravating circumstances outweighed mitigating circumstances since state law assigns specific weight various circumstances considered see supp questions decisions may hard require line drawing commonly required factfinder lawsuit example juries traditionally evaluated validity defenses insanity reduced capacity involve considerations mitigating circumstances various factors considered sentencing authorities numerical weights assigned requirements furman satisfied sentencing authority discretion guided channeled requiring examination specific factors argue favor imposition death penalty thus eliminating total arbitrariness capriciousness imposition directions given judge jury florida statute sufficiently clear precise enable various aggravating circumstances weighed mitigating ones result trial sentencing discretion guided channeled system focuses circumstances individual homicide individual defendant deciding whether death penalty imposed nonetheless petitioner attacks florida appellate review process role florida reviewing death sentences necessarily subjective unpredictable may true chosen formulate rigid objective test standard review cases follow appellate review process ineffective arbitrary fact apparent florida undertaken responsibly perform function death sentence review maximum rationality consistency example several times compared circumstances case review previous cases assessed imposition death sentences see alford state alvord state following procedure florida effect adopted type proportionality review mandated georgia statute cf gregg georgia ante suggestion florida engages cursory review death penalty cases totally controverted fact vacated death sentences come see supra iv florida like georgia responded furman enacting legislation passes constitutional muster legislation provides person convicted murder shall informed focused guided objective inquiry question whether sentenced death death sentence imposed sentencing authority articulates writing statutory reasons led decision reasons evidence supporting conscientiously reviewed statewide jurisdiction assure consistency fairness rationality evenhanded operation state law georgia system serves assure sentences death wantonly freakishly imposed see furman georgia stewart concurring accordingly judgment us affirmed ordered dissenting opinion justice marshall see ante footnotes described attacker wearing light pants pinstriped shirt long sleeves rolled elbow also stated attacker white male see infra murder statute petitioner convicted reads follows unlawful killing human perpetrated premeditated design effect death person killed human committed person engaged perpetration attempt perpetrate arson involuntary sexual battery robbery burglary kidnapping aircraft piracy unlawful throwing placing discharging destructive device bomb resulted unlawful distribution heroin person years age older drug proven proximate cause death user shall murder first degree shall constitute capital felony punishable provided cases section procedure set forth shall followed order determine sentence death life imprisonment stat ann supp see model penal code proposed official draft set gregg georgia ante aggravating circumstances capital felony committed person sentence imprisonment defendant previously convicted another capital felony felony involving use threat violence person defendant knowingly created great risk death many person capital felony committed defendant engaged accomplice commission attempt commit flight committing attempting commit robbery rape arson burglary kidnapping aircraft piracy unlawful throwing placing discharging destructive device bomb capital felony committed purpose avoiding preventing lawful arrest effecting escape custody capital felony committed pecuniary gain capital felony committed disrupt hinder lawful exercise governmental function enforcement laws capital felony especially heinous atrocious cruel supp defendant significant history prior criminal activity capital felony committed defendant influence extreme mental emotional disturbance victim participant defendant conduct consented act defendant accomplice capital felony committed another person participation relatively minor defendant acted extreme duress substantial domination another person capacity defendant appreciate criminality conduct conform conduct requirements law substantially impaired age defendant time crime supp tedder always cited florida considered death sentence following jury recommendation life imprisonment see thompson state douglas state dobbert state latter case two judges relied tedder separate opinions one support reversing death sentence one support affirming one case florida upheld death sentence trial judge simply listed six aggravating factors justification sentence imposed sawyer state since mitigating factors since aggravating factors arguably fell within statutory categories unclear whether florida uphold death sentence rested entirely nonstatutory aggravating circumstances seems unlikely since statute explicitly provides ggravating circumstances shall limited following eight specified factors supp emphasis added limiting language introducing list statutory mitigating factors see supp see also infra trial judge imposes sentence florida ruled may order preparation presentence investigation report assist determining appropriate sentence see swan state songer state reports frequently contain much information relevant sentencing see gregg georgia ante see american bar association project standards criminal justice sentencing alternatives procedures commentary pp approved draft president commission law enforcement administration justice challenge crime free society task force report courts see also gregg georgia ante words florida trial judge experience facts criminality possesses requisite knowledge balance facts case standard criminal activity developed involvement trials numerous defendants state dixon gregg examine claims vagueness overbreadth statutory criteria insofar necessary determine whether substantial risk florida system viewed entirety result capricious arbitrary imposition death penalty see gregg georgia ante florida affirmed death sentences several cases including instant case eighth statutory aggravating factor found without specifically stating homicide pitiless torturous victim see hallman state victim throat slit broken bottle spinkellink state career criminal shot sleeping traveling companion gardner state brutal beating murder alvord state three women killed strangulation one raped douglas state depraved murder henry state torture murder dobbert state torture killing two children circumstances cases accurately characterized pitiless unnecessarily torturous thus appear florida abandoned definition announced dixon applied alford tedder halliwell might argued case broadens construction since one person victim attacked hit fist read state opinion actually considered claims error advanced petitioner including trial judge finding none statutory mitigating circumstances existed however consider whether findings statutory aggravating circumstances supported evidence one aggravating circumstance found mitigating circumstances found exist outweigh aggravating circumstances justified concluding state necessarily decided point even though expressly done however circumstances case four separate aggravating circumstances found mitigating circumstance expressly found exist holding part state implied petitioner notes florida sentencing system fails channel discretion jury judge allows consideration nonstatutory aggravating factors case approve practice sawyer state florida recast trial six nonstatutory aggravating factors four aggravating circumstances two statutory noted earlier unclear florida ever approve death sentence based entirely nonstatutory aggravating circumstances see supra state dixon petitioner also argues since florida review sentences life imprisonment imposed capital cases sentences imposed cases capital crime charged jury convicted lesser offense unbalanced view way typical jury treats murder case affirm death sentences circumstances vast majority judges imposed sentence life imprisonment noted gregg georgia ante problem sufficient raise serious risk state system result arbitrary capricious imposition death penalty justice white chief justice justice rehnquist join concurring judgment need repeat statement facts case statutory procedure death penalty imposed described detail opinion justice stewart justice powell justice stevens agree see parts ante although statutory aggravating mitigating circumstances susceptible mechanical application means vague overbroad leave discretion sentencing authority unfettered florida law sentencing judge required impose death penalty murderers statutory aggravating factors outweigh mitigating factors good reason anticipate certain categories murderers penalty imposed freakishly rarely imposed regularity consequently said death penalty florida categories ceased credible deterrent measurably contribute end punishment criminal justice system furman georgia white concurring accordingly florida statutory scheme imposing death penalty run afoul holding furman georgia reasons set forth opinion concurring judgment gregg georgia ante dissenting opinion roberts louisiana post conclusion undercut possibility murderers may escape death penalty solely exercise prosecutorial discretion executive clemency reasons set forth dissenting opinion roberts louisiana post also reject petitioner argument eighth amendment death penalty may never imposed circumstances concur judgment affirmance justice blackmun concurring judgment concur judgment see furman georgia blackmun dissenting