Is a jury's error at the guilt and penalty phases of a death penalty trial invalid?

California, United States of America

The following excerpt is from People v. Garceau, 24 Cal.Rptr.2d 664, 6 Cal.4th 140, 862 P.2d 664 (Cal. 1993):

Defendant contends that the cumulative impact of error at the guilt and penalty phases of his trial undermined the reliability of the sentencing process, mandating that his death sentence be set aside. We reject this contention. The few errors committed at defendant's trial fail to "raise a reasonable possibility that the jury might have reached a more favorable result had such error or errors not occurred." (People v. Lewis, supra, 50 Cal.3d at p. 285, 266 Cal.Rptr. 834, 786 P.2d 892.) ³⁷

"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Try it today free of charge!

The above passage should not be considered legal advice. Reliable answers to complex legal questions require comprehensive research memos. To learn more visit www.alexi.com.

Other Questions

Is proof of guilt of a crime by a unanimous jury required at the penalty phase of a death penalty trial? (California, United States of America)

Is a defendant's failure to testify at the penalty phase an error not to instruct the jury to refrain from drawing any inference from the fact that defendant did not testify at penalty phase? (California, United States of America)

What is the role of a jury in the penalty phase of a death penalty trial? (California, United States of America)

What difference does a hung jury at the penalty phase of a criminal trial make to the outcome of the guilt trial? (California, United States of America)

What is the test for granting a motion for a new trial based on comments made by a juror during deliberations during the penalty phase of a death penalty trial? (California, United States of America)

Does a defendant have grounds to argue that a trial court prejudicially errs in failing to instruct the jury sua sponte at the penalty phase to disregard the no-sympathy instruction at the guilt phase? (California, United States of America)

In a penalty retrial of a convicted murderer, what is the effect of a hung jury at the penalty phase of his penalty trial? (California, United States of America)

In what circumstances of the crime scene evidence will be admitted during the penalty phase of a penalty trial, does the trial court error not to exclude the evidence? (California, United States of America)

Is a defendant's claim that the trial court erred when it denied his request to instruct the jury it could reject the death penalty if it had a lingering doubt about his guilt? (California, United States of America)

In a penalty case, in what circumstances will the court allow the jury to instruct the jury on a defendant's failure to testify in the penalty phase? (California, United States of America)

Is a jury's error at the guilt and penalty phases of a death penalty trial invalid?

"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Other Questions

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.

Company

Product

Resources