Is there a difference between first degree murder and special circumstances lying in wait?

MultiRegion, United States of America

The following excerpt is from Bradway v. Cate, 588 F.3d 990 (9th Cir. 2009):

California legislature and courts have created a thin but meaningfully distinguishable line between first degree murder lying in wait and special circumstances lying in wait." That "thin" difference was that the language of the special circumstances statute at that time referred to murders committed "while" lying in wait, imposing a temporal requirement, and the first degree murder statute referred to murders committed "by means of" lying in wait, lacking such a requirement. Id. at 908. We held that this distinction was sufficient to define and differentiate the subset of defendants guilty of the special circumstance from the general run of defendants so that the special circumstance "does not encourage arbitrary enforcement, and is not unconstitutionally vague." Id. (footnote omitted); see also Morales v. Woodford, 388 F.3d 1159, 1174-78 (9th Cir.2004) (upholding same special circumstance in death penalty case).

Other Questions


In what circumstances will a jury at the guilt/special circumstance phase of a murder case be able to establish a torture-murder special circumstance? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
Does the acquittal of Gooday on all charges of first-degree murder preclude a retrial on three lesser included charges of murder? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
Is a jury instruction on special circumstances lying in wait unconstitutionally shifted the burden of proving the lack of a time gap to the defense? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
Does an intoxication instruction on murder second [84 N.Y.2d] degree compel a jury to find a defendant guilty of reckless manslaughter in the first degree? ("New York", United States of America)
What are the elements of murder sufficient to allow the jury to find the essential elements of first degree murder? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
What are the relevant elements of a first degree murder? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
What is the difference between an acquittal of intentional murder and a conviction of depraved indifference murder? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
What is the legal test for murder with special circumstances? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
In what circumstances will a holdout juror change their verdict in a second-degree murder case? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
What are the elements of a charge of first degree murder? (MultiRegion, United States of America)
X



Alexi white


"The most advanced legal research software ever built."

Trusted by top litigators from across North America.