If a jury finds that a person sentenced to death for a crime committed while on death row has not been found guilty of the crime, does this constitute a miscarriage of justice?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Kimble, 244 Cal.Rptr. 148, 44 Cal.3d 480, 749 P.2d 803 (Cal. 1988):

But even if I should assume for argument's sake that the premise is valid, I believe that the error considered here would nevertheless require automatic reversal on due process grounds under the reasoning of Cabana v. Bullock, supra, 474 U.S. 376, 106 S.Ct. 689, 88 L.Ed.2d 704.

In Bullock the United States Supreme Court held that "If a person sentenced to death in fact killed, attempted to kill, or intended to kill, the Eighth Amendment[, as construed in Enmund v. Florida (1982) 458 U.S. 782, 102 S.Ct. 3368, 73 L.Ed.2d 1140,] ... is not violated by his or her execution regardless of who makes the determination of the requisite culpability...." (474 U.S. at p. 386, 106 S.Ct. at p. 697.) In so holding, the court rejected the proposition that "Enmund can be satisfied only at a sentencing hearing and by a jury's decision ... that the defendant possessed the requisite culpability." (Id. at p. 384, 106 S.Ct. at p. 696.)

Other Questions


Does a defendant who committed a crime under a different sentencing scheme that existed at the time he committed the crime be sentenced to a different sentence? (California, United States of America)
What is the evidence supporting a finding that a person who was found guilty of sexual assault by reason of abuse has been found guilty by a jury? (California, United States of America)
What is the test for a finding that a crime committed by appellant was committed with the specific intent to commit a crime against a specific gang member? (California, United States of America)
Is a person who knowingly aids and abets criminal conduct guilty of not only the intended crime but also of any other crime the perpetrator actually commits when they commit? (California, United States of America)
When a police officer has an objective, reasonable, articulable suspicion a person has committed a crime or is about to commit a crime, can the officer briefly detain the person? (California, United States of America)
Is a person who aids or abets a crime liable for the crime if the original crime was committed independently by another person? (California, United States of America)
Can a jury use uncharged crime evidence to determine that defendant was more likely to have committed the charged crimes because he committed the uncharged crimes? (California, United States of America)
Can a person be found guilty of a crime as an aider and abettor even if someone else committed some or all of the criminal acts? (California, United States of America)
Does Section 451 or 452.5(2) of the California Controlled Substitute Act allow a person to be found guilty of the crime of furnishing a controlled substance to another person? (California, United States of America)
Does a failure of instruction to require a jury to produce written findings by the jury regarding the aggravating factors found and considered in returning a death sentence violate a defendant's constitutional right to meaningful appellate review? (California, United States of America)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.