rose clark argued march decided july respondent charged murder two persons arising incident trial tennessee state defended ground inter alia either insane incapable forming requisite intent kill victims instructed jury murder requires proof premeditation deliberation tennessee law murder requires proof malice planning premeditation instructed jury homicides presumed malicious absence evidence rebut implied presumption state proven beyond reasonable doubt killing occurred presumed killing done maliciously jury found respondent guilty murder one victim murder tennessee appeals affirmed rejecting respondent argument malice instruction impermissibly shifted burden proof malice respondent sought habeas corpus relief federal district held malice instruction unconstitutional sandstrom montana wherein held jury instruction creating presumption malice effect either eliminating intent issue shifting burden proof intent defendant violates due process district went find error deemed harmless respondent relied upon mens rea defense appeals affirmed held standard chapman california reviewing set aside otherwise valid conviction may confidently say whole record constitutional error question harmless beyond reasonable doubt applies erroneous malice instruction case respondent opportunity present evidence argue support innocence tried impartial jury supervised impartial judge aside malice instruction jury clearly instructed find respondent guilty beyond reasonable doubt every element murder context erroneous malice instruction compare kinds errors automatically require reversal otherwise valid conviction error instruction impermissibly shifting burden proof malice basic fair trial never harmless purpose behind sandstrom rule ensuring guilty punished supports conclusion sandstrom error equivalent directed verdict state since jury instructed presume malice predicate facts still must find existence facts beyond reasonable doubt pp although authority decide whether facts particular case constitutional error harmless chapman standard sparingly accordingly since appeals yet applied chapman facts case case remanded determine whether error question harmless beyond reasonable doubt pp powell delivered opinion burger white rehnquist joined burger filed concurring opinion post stevens filed opinion concurring judgment post blackmun filed dissenting opinion brennan marshall joined post michael cody attorney general tennessee argued cause petitioner briefs jerry smith deputy attorney general kymberly lynn anne hattaway assistant attorney general paul larkin argued cause amicus curiae urging reversal brief solicitor general fried assistant attorney general trott deputy solicitor general frey scott daniel argued cause filed brief respondent john van de kamp attorney general california steve white chief assistant attorney general ronald niver david salmon deputy attorneys general filed brief state california amicus curiae urging reversal briefs amici curiae urging affirmance filed american civil liberties union et al burt neuborne charles sims national association criminal defense lawyers et al kim robert fawcett stephen saltzburg justice powell delivered opinion case presents question whether standard chapman california applies jury instructions violate principles sandstrom montana francis franklin december charles browning joy faulk shot death sat browning pickup truck remote area rutherford county tennessee respondent stanley clark faulk former boyfriend charged murders evidence introduced trial showed browning faulk faulk two young children aged driving rutherford county night murders according older child another vehicle followed browning truck hour browning pulled truck private driveway apparently let vehicle pass driver second vehicle pulled behind browning thereby blocking exit driver left vehicle walked cab browning truck fired four shots range one shot struck browning head two others struck faulk head fourth struck faulk left shoulder killer left scene vehicle browning faulk died faulk children shot went help telling local resident clicker nickname children knew respondent shot browning mother earlier night police seen respondent following browning truck police soon located respondent apprehended chase police found murder weapon pistol respondent borrowed friend near respondent home trial state relied foregoing evidence evidence showing respondent joy faulk stormy love affair faulk ended fall several times breakup respondent threatened kill faulk ever found another man respondent offered two lines defense first contended sam faulk joy killed victims dispute concerning custody two faulk children state rebutted contention introducing evidence dispute existed sam faulk elsewhere murders committed second respondent argued either insane incapable forming requisite criminal intent support argument respondent introduced evidence suffering amnesia remember events night murders addition testimony suggested respondent drinking heavily entire day murders finally two defense psychiatrists testified respondent legally insane time murders committed depression concerning recent breakup joy faulk made impossible conform conduct law close trial instructed jury elements murder tennessee law murder requires proof premeditation deliberation murder requires proof malice instructions defined malice intent injury another design formed mind mischief another app malice require proof planning premeditation killing upon sudden impulse passion sufficed committed intent harm another charged jury homicides presumed malicious absence evidence rebut implied presumption thus state proven beyond reasonable doubt killing occurred presumed killing done maliciously presumption may rebutted either direct circumstantial evidence regardless whether offered defendant exists evidence state ibid tennessee criminal appeals affirmed convictions rejecting respondent argument jury instructions impermissibly shifted burden proof malice respondent sought habeas corpus relief middle district tennessee district held malice instruction violated respondent right guilt proved beyond reasonable doubt right defined sandstrom montana went find error deemed harmless respondent relied upon mens rea defense contesting guilt supp appeals sixth circuit affirmed agreed malice instruction unconstitutional sandstrom turning question whether error harmless reasoned respondent contested malice trial erroneous instruction harmless governing precedent app pet cert citing engle koehler aff equally divided reached conclusion despite substantial evidence petitioner guilt added writing clean slate direct inquiry suggested justice powell dissenting connecticut johnson inquiry whether evidence dispositive intent reviewing say beyond reasonable doubt jury found unnecessary rely presumption question case might able respond affirmative app pet cert ii chapman california rejected argument errors constitutional dimension necessarily require reversal criminal convictions since chapman repeatedly reaffirmed principle otherwise valid conviction set aside reviewing may confidently say whole record constitutional error harmless beyond reasonable doubt delaware van arsdall principle applied wide variety constitutional errors failure permit concerning witness bias rushen spain per curiam denial right present trial hasting improper comment defendant failure testify moore illinois admission witness identification obtained violation right counsel milton wainwright admission confession obtained violation right counsel chambers maroney admission evidence obtained violation fourth amendment see also hopper evans citing chapman finding prejudice trial failure give lesser included offense instruction application analysis cases reflected denigration constitutional rights involved instead emphasized earlier term doctrine recognizes principle central purpose criminal trial decide factual question defendant guilt innocence nobles promotes public respect criminal process focusing underlying fairness trial rather virtually inevitable presence immaterial error cf traynor riddle harmless error reversal error regardless effect judgment encourages litigants abuse judicial process bestirs public ridicule delaware van arsdall supra similarly analysis presumably apply directed verdict prosecution criminal trial jury stated trial judge prohibited entering judgment conviction directing jury come forward verdict regardless overwhelmingly evidence may point direction martin linen supply citations omitted accord carpenters rule stems sixth amendment clear command afford jury trials serious criminal cases see duncan louisiana right altogether denied state contend deprivation harmless evidence established defendant guilt error case wrong entity judged defendant guilty emphasized however errors chapman apply exception rule hasting supra accordingly defendant counsel tried impartial adjudicator strong presumption errors may occurred subject analysis thrust many constitutional rules governing conduct criminal trials ensure trials lead fair correct judgments reviewing find record developed trial establishes guilt beyond reasonable doubt interest fairness satisfied judgment affirmed repeatedly stated constitution entitles criminal defendant fair trial perfect one delaware van arsdall hasting applying principles case difficult respondent received full opportunity put evidence make argument support claim innocence tried fairly selected impartial jury supervised impartial judge apart challenged malice instruction jury case clearly instructed find respondent guilty beyond reasonable doubt every element murder see also supra placed context erroneous malice instruction compare kinds errors automatically require reversal otherwise valid conviction therefore find error issue instruction impermissibly shifted burden proof malice basic fair trial never harmless cf chapman purpose behind rule sandstrom montana supports conclusion sandstrom logical extension holding winship prosecution must prove every fact necessary constitute crime defendant charged beyond reasonable doubt see sandstrom francis franklin purpose rule ensure guilty criminally punished stated last term francis franklin rule protects fundamental value determination society given voice justice harlan concurrence winship far worse convict innocent man let guilty man go free quoting winship supra harlan concurring verdict guilty reached case sandstrom error committed correct beyond reasonable doubt reversal conviction nothing promote interest rule serves sandstrom error equivalent directed verdict state jury instructed presume malice predicate facts still must find existence facts beyond reasonable doubt connecticut johnson powell dissenting many cases predicate facts conclusively establish intent rational jury find defendant committed relevant criminal act intend cause injury see lamb jernigan cert denied event erroneous instruction simply superfluous jury found winship words every fact necessary establish every element offense beyond reasonable doubt see connecticut johnson supra powell dissenting jeffries stephan defenses presumptions burden proof criminal law yale one doubts trial properly instructed jury infer malice respondent conduct see francis franklin supra ulster county allen indeed many cases direct evidence intent exactly intent established purposes deciding case enough recognize cases inference overpowering see hopper evans neither justice purposes sandstrom rule reverse conviction case accordingly hold chapman standard applies cases one iii although appeals acknowledged sandstrom error might cases harmless analysis issue square chapman concluded sandstrom error never harmless defendant contests intent app pet cert cases turn whether defendant conceded factual issue error bore rather held chapman mandates consideration entire record prior reversing conviction constitutional errors may harmless hasting question whether whole record error harmless beyond reasonable doubt see also chapman efore federal constitutional error held harmless must able declare belief harmless beyond reasonable doubt connecticut johnson powell dissenting cases sandstrom error inquiry whether evidence dispositive intent reviewing say beyond reasonable doubt jury found unnecessary rely presumption thus fact respondent denied intent injury another app dispose question although plainly authority decide whether facts particular case constitutional error harmless chapman standard sparingly hasting supra appeals yet applied chapman facts case therefore remand determination whether error committed case harmless beyond reasonable doubt iv judgment appeals vacated case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes criminal appeals noted almost immediately following presumption instruction judge charged question whether alleged killing done malice determine entire case look facts circumstances developed evidence determine whether state proven beyond reasonable doubt existence malice reasonable doubt whether alleged killing done malice defendant guilty murder second degree must acquit offense app criminal appeals reasoned instruction adequately informed jurors burden proof malice remained state times app pet cert sandstrom held instruction creating presumption malice effect shifting burden proof intent defendant violates due process rule winship sandstrom montana sandstrom decided shortly respondent trial commenced supp appeals judgment reported opinion unpublished thus consider whether taken context instructions permissible decisions sandstrom francis franklin purposes analysis assume appeals properly held instructions unconstitutional examples chapman cited errors never harmless either aborted basic trial process payne arkansas use coerced confession denied altogether gideon wainwright denial counsel tumey ohio biased adjudicator unlike errors judicial bias denial counsel error case affect composition record evaluation whether error prejudiced respondent thus require difficult inquiries concerning matters might placed evidence cf holloway arkansas consequently inherent difficulty evaluating whether error prejudiced respondent case see frady evaluating sandstrom error prejudice cause actual prejudice standard wainwright sykes presumption remove issue intent jury consideration distinguishable instructional errors prevent jury considering issue connecticut johnson powell dissenting cf jackson virginia suggesting failure instruct jury standard harmless see brooks kemp kravitch concurring dissenting emphasizing juries free infer intent conduct hopper evans held constitutionally required instruct juries lesser included offenses instructions warranted evidence defendant case claimed trial instructed jury unintentional homicide commission robbery concluded extraordinary perversion law say intent kill established felon engaged armed robbery admits shooting victim back evidence supported claim respondent intended kill victim affirmatively negated claim intend kill victim instruction offense unintentional killing robbery therefore warranted citation omitted hopper suggests defy common sense conclude killing violent committed unintentionally see connecticut johnson powell dissenting follows rational jury need rely erroneous presumption instruction find malice cases think dissent asks answers wrong question case post opinion blackmun agree determination guilt innocence according standard proof required winship progeny jury rather see post analysis addresses different question done trial error theory may altered basis jury decided case practice clearly effect outcome question applies merely sandstrom violations errors may affected either instructions jury heard record considered including errors mistaken admission evidence unconstitutional comment defendant silence erroneous limitation defendant prosecution witness errors alter terms jury considered defendant guilt innocence therefore theoretically impair defendant interest jury decide case dissent argument sixth amendment forbids reviewing decide impact trial error outcome post logically implies errors immune analysis yet repeatedly held contrary delaware van arsdall limitation defendant hasting improper comment defendant failure testify moore illinois admission improperly obtained witness identification indeed chapman california beginning line cases applied analysis error placed improper argument jury finding comment defendant silence harmful see also hopper evans citing chapman finding error jury instructions harmless decisions ignored dissent strongly support application analysis context sandstrom error dissent contends jury decision convict respondent one count premeditated murder aptly illustrate analysis inappropriate cases intent issue post opinion blackmun argument without merit jury determined respondent guilty beyond reasonable doubt intend ing take life joy faulk cool purpose app trial charge defining premeditation jury determined respondent guilty malicious premeditated murder charles browning alleged error instructions trial instruction jury presume malice killing respondent dissent theory proper instruction burden proof malice might led jury find neither malice premeditation faulk killing argument implausible face leave question whether error case harmless beyond reasonable doubt appeals remand suggest different verdicts two killings way support respondent contention sandstrom error case prejudicial parties disagree scope relevant evidence must assessed chapman particular petitioner argues evidence amnesia respondent drunkenness day murders insanity irrelevant malice respondent disagrees course issues tennessee law first instance need resolve express view whether assuming evidence question relevant malice error case nevertheless harmless beyond reasonable doubt chief justice burger concurring join opinion although see need remanding application analysis evidence case showed respondent stalked victims car hour trapping victims truck private driveway respondent fired four shots range killing victims two young girls aged truck witnessed slaying mother one victims murder respondent left scene apprehended police chase view evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates respondent acted malice justice stevens concurring judgment correctly concludes standard chapman california applies erroneous jury instructions case agree however dictum regarding nature analysis according defendant counsel tried impartial adjudicator strong presumption errors may occurred subject analysis ante statement stands sharp contrast analysis chapman principal question presented chapman whether ever harmless constitutional error without questioning view constitutional error always sufficiently serious create presumption favor reversal refused hold federal constitutional errors regardless facts circumstances must always deemed harmful far announcing general principle analysis rule rather exception stated holding language conclude may constitutional errors setting particular case unimportant insignificant may consistent federal constitution deemed harmless requiring automatic reversal conviction thereafter opinion emphasized burden showing constitutional error harmless heavier burden showing ordinary trial error harmless noted original harmless error rule put burden beneficiary error either prove injury suffer reversal erroneously obtained judgment fashioned constitutional rule reference earlier decision fahy connecticut stating little difference statement fahy connecticut whether reasonable possibility evidence complained might contributed conviction requiring beneficiary constitutional error prove beyond reasonable doubt error complained contribute verdict obtained therefore adhere meaning fahy case hold federal constitutional error held harmless must able declare belief harmless beyond reasonable doubt appellate courts ordinarily original task applying test familiar standard courts believe adoption provide workable standard although achieving result aimed fahy case ii statement rule review reasons neither adequate explanation current case law sound judgment jurisprudence recognizes inquiry remains inappropriate certain constitutional violations matter strong evidence guilt may ante see also chapman suggests inapplicability harmless error violations rests concerns reliability accuracy concerns relevant consideration determining applicability harmless error ante fact however violations certain constitutional rights subject analysis rights protect important values unrelated function trial thus racial discrimination selection grand juries intolerable even defendant guilt subsequently established fair trial racial discrimination selection petit jury may require new trial without inquiry actual impact forbidden practice admission coerced confession never harmless even though basic trial process otherwise completely fair evidence guilt overwhelming short recently emphasized constitution criminal justice system protect values besides reliability guilt innocence determination coherent jurisprudence similarly respect values addition giving inadequate respect constitutional values besides reliability adopting broad presumption favor harmless error also corrosive impact administration criminal justice automatic application review case case error error encourage prosecutors subordinate interest respecting constitution always powerful interest obtaining conviction particular case particularly striking compare apparent willingness forgive constitutional errors redound prosecutor benefit determination give conclusive effect trivial errors obstruct defendant ability raise meritorious constitutional arguments proper respect range constitutional values interest evenhanded approach administration justice convince dictum sweeping presumption favor review unnecessary also unsound iii particular case however primary constitutional value protected holdings sandstrom montana francis franklin accurate determination defendant guilt innocence opinion also kind error inherently imprecise effect inquiry ill advised follows federal constitution command rule automatic reversal appeals review entire record determine whether able declare belief constitutional error harmless beyond reasonable doubt accordingly concur judgment see vasquez hillery ntentional discrimination selection grand jurors grave constitutional trespass possible color state authority wholly within power state prevent thus remedy embraced century effective remedy violation disproportionate evil seeks deter vasquez explicitly rejected dissent suggestion grand jury discrimination subject analysis general principle conviction reversed constitutional error error affect outcome prosecution powell dissenting see also rose mitchell see batson kentucky trial decides facts establish prima facie purposeful discrimination prosecutor come forward neutral explanation action precedents require petitioner conviction reversed see also turner murray plurality opinion inadequacy voir dire possibility racial prejudice case requires petitioner death sentence vacated judgment case unacceptable risk racial prejudice infecting capital sentencing proceeding turner explicitly rejected dissent suggestion death sentence stand actual jury prejudice evident record see powell dissenting nothing record suggests racial bias played role jurors deliberations see payne arkansas uniformly held even though may sufficient evidence apart coerced confession support judgment conviction admission evidence objection coerced confession vitiates judgment violates due process clause fourteenth amendment chapman citing payne coerced confession case example constitutional error may deemed harmless see also miller fenton long held certain interrogation techniques either isolation applied unique characteristics particular suspect offensive civilized system justice must condemned due process clause fourteenth amendment see allen hardy ante serving criminal defendant interest neutral jury selection procedures rule batson may bearing truthfinding function criminal trial decision serves values well holding ensures discriminate citizens summoned sit judgment member race strengthens public confidence administration justice rule batson therefore designed serve multiple ends first may impact truthfinding allen illinois ante privilege enjoined fifth amendment designed enhance reliability factfinding determination stands constitution entirely independent reasons cf jackson clark sitting designation harmless error swarming around circuit like bees someone stung suggested prosecutors enforce miranda letter police obey like diligence otherwise courts may act correct presently alarming situation see also lane nn stevens dissenting collecting authorities criticizing impact recent expansive jurisprudence see smith murray cf holloway arkansas analysis inappropriate assessing constitutional error joint representation part inquiry requires unguided speculation lane stevens dissenting state course remains free apply review matter state constitutional protections see delaware van arsdall stevens dissenting connecticut johnson stevens concurring judgment appeals sixth circuit familiar tennessee law appropriate consider state tennessee law subject justice blackmun justice brennan justice marshall join dissenting stanley clark deprived two rights right guaranteed due process clause fourteenth amendment compel state tennessee prove beyond reasonable doubt every element crimes charged right guaranteed sixth amendment jury peers determine whether state met burden today focuses entirely former right disregards totally latter reviewing conclusion record support conviction properly instructed jury bearing question whether defendant denied right jury actually tried make determination conform due process law defendants entitled validity convictions appraised consideration case issues determined trial cole arkansas trial fundamentally unfair time took place jury compelled perform constitutionally required role rendered fundamentally fair retrospect amounts nothing appellate review sufficiency evidence therefore dissent holding analysis applied stanley clark indicted charges murder joy faulk charles browning pleaded guilty charges trial clark contested every element crime argued committed killings recall due amnesia event connected killings alternatively incapable forming culpable intent due mental illness intoxication defense counsel opening statement testimony psychiatric experts persons close clark put question whether clark possessed requisite mental state directly jury close trial instructed jury malice intent injury another necessary element well murder app trial instructed jury three days heard testimony raising doubts clark capacity form requisite intent state proven beyond reasonable doubt killing occurred presumed killing done maliciously presumption may rebutted trial went instruct jury voluntary manslaughter killing without malice district found appeals sixth circuit agreed jury instructions constitutionally infirm sandstrom montana app pet cert sole question whether error ever harmless see ante sandstrom held jury instructions question intent like instructions violate due process requirement recognized winship conviction valid state proved beyond reasonable doubt every element crime thus majority assumes clear constitutional error clark trial see ante question whether error harmless ii rule stems recognition trial errors sufficiently tangential trial process fairly may overlooked chapman california also recognized existence class constitutional errors necessarily render trial fundamentally unfair ante thus amenable analysis analysis according majority trial defendant represented counsel may present evidence argument impartial judge jury ante thus errors deny defendant basic trial process never harmless ante archetypal examples acts denial right counsel trial biased judge see ante gideon wainwright tumey ohio salient feature examples share effective defense counsel impartial judge play central roles basic trial process sixth fourteenth amendments clearly establish jury equally central entity cf ante opinion today fails comprehend instruction case interfered fundamentally jury performance constitutionally mandated role error involved analytically indistinguishable errors finds inappropriate analysis framers chose protect defendants primarily regulating substance criminal law establishing certain trial procedures followed criminal case see underwood thumb scale justice burdens persuasion criminal cases yale jury central obligation due process clause determine whether state proved element offense charged beyond reasonable doubt see sandstrom montana supra winship supra constitution assigns function solely jury sandstrom duty interfered see ulster county allen powell dissenting delegated another entity findings made judge cure deficiencies jury findings guilt innocence defendant resulting failure instruct find element crime see connecticut johnson powell dissenting cabana bullock see also cole arkansas constitution allow appellate arrogate function defendant sixth amendment demand performed jury jury receives constitutionally flawed instruction intent effect directed return verdict defendant connecticut johnson plurality opinion jury primary finder fact trial judge prohibited entering judgment conviction directing jury come forward verdict regardless overwhelmingly evidence may point direction quoting martin linen supply erroneous instruction invites jury abdicate constitutional responsibility decide whether state proved every element offense beyond reasonable doubt likely jury accept invitation reason believe jury deliberately undertaken difficult task evaluating evidence intent offered opportunity simply rely presumption sandstrom connecticut johnson plurality opinion defendant contests issue intent reviewing rarely capable deciding whether error contributed verdict way knowing jury treated question intent see sandstrom ulster county allen powell dissenting verdicts reached case aptly illustrate analysis inappropriate cases defendant contests element mens rea clark charged murders two people together truck killed state used evidence prove clark killed faulk prove killed browning yet jury found clark guilty murder faulk murder browning jury reached distinct verdicts shows focused closely question clark mental culpability precise issue gave constitutionally defective charge reviewing simply determine whether jury fact relied flawed instruction certainly possible perhaps jury find sufficient intent convict clark murder presumption malice convicted voluntary manslaughter malice required value point evidence presented trial clark intent erroneous presumption disputed element crime renders irrelevant evidence issue jury may relied upon presumption rather upon evidence connecticut johnson plurality opinion ordinary view jury adheres instructions parker randolph plurality opinion reason believe lay jury know enough disregard judge bad law fact misguides bollenbach true hen jury instructed presume malice predicate facts still must find existence facts beyond reasonable doubt ante truism beside point fact jury required find order trigger presumption killing occurred app jury instructed presume criminal intent sine qua non criminal responsibility fact dead body jury may found fact body jury met winship requirement finding beyond reasonable doubt every fact necessary constitute crime jury may never found clark acted malice essential element crimes convicted iii recognized years ago question reviewing must ask whether guilt may spelt record whether guilt found jury according procedures standards required constitution bollenbach jury properly instructed concerning essential element offense charged danger exists defendant deprived sixth fourteenth amendment right jury determine whether state proved element offense beyond reasonable doubt faced incorrect instruction general verdict guilty reviewing simply lacks adequate basis deciding whether jury performed constitutionally required function believe today asks answers wrong question dissent trial wording definition malice presumption malice murder differed slightly gave murder presented text differences immaterial courts treated instructions identical see app pet cert majority sandstrom mandatory conclusive presumptions remove presumed element case state proved predicate fact mandatory rebuttable presumptions require jury find presumed element unless defendant rebuts presumption unconstitutional see sandstrom montana francis franklin case involves latter type course defendant conceded intent use erroneous presumption intent may superfluous reviewing confident sandstrom error play role jury verdict see connecticut johnson plurality opinion